Bulawayo: A 26-year-old man from Filabusi has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison for raping a 17-year-old girl he lured to Bulawayo under the pretence of offering her a job.
The incident took place in May this year and it also highlights the dangers of online job scams.
The man, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, was convicted of rape by Regional Magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla at the Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that the teenager travelled from Plumtree hoping for employment and had responded to a message on a WhatsApp group in March, seeking a job. The accused, who was part of the group, responded on May 1, claiming his grandmother needed a helper in Cowdray Park, a high-density suburb in Bulawayo.
After believing the man’s story, the girl travelled to Bulawayo four days later. Upon arrival, she was met by the accused and two of his friends. One of the friends took the victim to Mashasha beer garden in Mpopoma, where the accused resided. The accused promised to take her to Cowdray Park the following morning, claiming he needed a partner.
Around 8pm that evening, the accused returned home and again promised to take the victim to her workplace the following morning. However, three hours later, he entered the room where the victim was sleeping, stripped her, and raped her.
The victim, despite trying to defend herself, was overpowered and eventually succumbed to the attack. The following morning, at around 6am, the victim left the accused’s place after realising there was no employment opportunity. She immediately reported the incident to the ZRP Western Commonage, leading to the accused’s arrest.
The victim was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for a medical examination, and the medical report was presented in court as evidence.
During the trial, the accused’s testimony differed from his initial defence outline, prompting the magistrate to disregard his claims. The magistrate ruled that the evidence clearly indicated the sexual intercourse was not consensual, based on the victim’s statement.
In her sentencing, Ms Mnkandla stated, “The court considers the impact that the offence had on the victim. The law does not tolerate such heinous crimes, and there is a need to impose a deterrent sentence to send a clear message to the offender and would-be offenders.”
The prosecutor, Melissa Dube, argued that the accused deserved a harsh sentence, given that he lured the victim from Plumtree under false pretences and took advantage of her vulnerability. She also highlighted that the accused raped the victim thrice and used force to facilitate the crime.
