A Kuwadzana man has been arrested on allegations of raping a minor.
The suspect allegedly raped the minor in the year 2017 on date and time unknown to the juvenile who was then aged 5.
Allegations are that the suspect, who was a co-tenant together with the minor’s mother at a shared house in Kuwadzana Extension lured the 5yr old child with food before leading her to his bedroom where he allegedly raped her once without protection.
It’s alleged that on the following day, the suspect again called the minor into his bedroom where he raped her once and ordered her not to disclose the abuse to her mother, allegedly threatening to beat her if she did.
During the rapes, the minor reportedly made an effort to resist, but was overpowered by the suspect who gripped her hands tightly. The mother of the minor was allegedly asleep in her bedroom on both occasions of the abuse.
It was only after a lesson on Religious and Sexual Harassment at her school in September 2023 that the minor found the courage to tell her mother about the incident and this led to the suspect’s arrest.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Harare provincial spokesperson Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the incident and said investigations are in progress.
“Complainant and accused are not related. Sometime in 2017, the complainant and the accused were residing together at the same house as tenants in Kuwadzana Extension, Harare. During the same year 2017 on a date and time unknown to the complainant who was aged 5 years by then but during the day, the complainant went into the accused’s house to eat.
“The accused person then called the complainant into his bedroom and ordered her to lie on the bed. The accused person then forcibly took off the complainant’s dress, pants and had sexual intercourse with her once without her consent.
“The complainant tried to resist but she failed since the accused held her hands tightly. After the act, the accused threatened to beat the complainant if she discloses the matter to her mother who at that moment was asleep in her bedroom.
“On the following day the accused person called the complainant again into his spare bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her once for the second time without her consent. The matter came to light in September 2023 when complainant learnt about Religious and Sexual Harassment at her school and that is when she got the courage to reveal her ordeal to her mother leading to a report being filed at ZRP Kuwadzana.
“Scene was attended and the accused was arrested and detained under ZRP Kuwadzana. Complainant was referred to hospital for medical examination. Investigations are in progress,” reads the docket.
