An inyanga from Lupane has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he raped his seven year-old daughter.
The 45-year-old father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, will however serve an effective 18 years after the magistrate suspended two years on conditions.The man, from Dakiwe Village, had pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga.
This was after his daughter gave an account of how he would sexually abuse her while her mother sobbed uncontrollably in the court.
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| Inyanga Caged 20 Years For Raping Daughter Aged Seven |
The man stunned the court when he likened himself to Jesus saying he was being persecuted for something he did not do.
“I am innocent, even Jesus was crucified yet he was innocent,” he said prompting the magistrate to hit back “Are you Jesus?”
Prosecuting Bheki Tshabalala narrated how the man would prey on his minor daughter.
“On a date unknown to the prosecutor but during the month of August 2015, the victim and her younger brother retired to bed,” said Tshabalala.
“Her father also went to his bedroom hut but during the night he woke and sneaked into his children’s bedroom hut where the girl was sleeping.
“He lifted her and carried her to his bedroom hut where he placed her on the blankets facing upwards and raped her.”
The court was told that the little girl screamed and cried in pain but no one came to her rescue with the father threatening to assault her if she told anyone about the issue.
The girl kept quiet and only revealed the matter when cops visited the homestead after the arrest of the father who had been found in possession of 10 twists of dagga by detectives on patrol.
“While at the homestead, one of the female detectives observed that the girl was having difficulties walking.
“Upon questioning, the girl revealed to them that she was being sexually abused by her father,” said Tshabalala.
The matter was then reported to ZRP Lupane leading to the man’s arrest.
The girl’s mother sobbed uncontrollably as her daughter gave evidence and had to be escorted out of court.
