Zvishavane – A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly raping his Grade 7 daughter. The 47-year-old officer, who was attached to the ZRP Support Unit, appeared before the Zvishavane Magistrates Court to face the grave charges.
The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, which began in August 2024. According to the prosecution, the officer returned home drunk one night and forcibly violated his daughter. Following this initial assault, he threatened the child with unspecified consequences if she reported the matter to anyone.
The abuse continued into 2025, with another incident occurring in January. On this occasion, the accused fondled the victim before expressing further desires to be intimate with her. The assault was only interrupted by the arrival of the girl’s stepmother, but the officer intimidated his daughter into remaining silent.
However, the court was told that the minor eventually found the courage to confide in her friends and a teacher at school. These individuals played a crucial role in helping her report the abuse to the authorities. A subsequent medical examination confirmed the violations, leading to the officer’s arrest and subsequent conviction.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA) expressed its dismay at the case, describing the incident as a profound betrayal of trust. “This case is a shocking betrayal of trust by a man in a position of authority. It highlights the urgent need for continued efforts to combat gender-based violence and protect children, especially within families where they should feel safest,” the NPA stated.
In a separate, equally disturbing case, the prosecution at Shamva Magistrate Court is pursuing a case of sexual exploitation involving a 14-year-old girl and 10 men.
The State, represented by Mr Munyaradzi Nengomasha and Ms Kudakwashe Chirairo, has applied for the docket to be referred to the Prosecutor-General’s office so that the charge can be changed to rape. Mr Nengomasha stated that the complainant had indicated that she had not consented to the sexual activities. The complainant, who sat for her Grade 7 exams last year, is at the centre of the Shamva case.
One of the accused persons appeared before the Shamva magistrate, Ms Ruramai Chitumbura, on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the proceedings, defence counsel, Mr Munyaradzi Mataranyika of Kajokoto and Company Legal Practitioners, made the claim that the complainant frequented the Liquid Lounge as a sex worker. Mr Mataranyika told the court that the girl’s mother had made several reports to community-based childcare workers, stating that her child had become uncontrollable and sometimes spent nights away from home.
