Rape victim demands life sentence for him

A 13-YEAR-OLD rape victim asked the Beitbridge Regional Court on Thursday to sentence her stepfather to life in prison for raping her twice this month.

Although the court sentenced the rapist to 30 years in prison, the highlight of the case was the girl’s moving account of the sexual assault.

In her victim impact assessment application submitted to Judge Takudzwa Gwazemba, the girl, who cannot be named for professional reasons, said she was still hurting physically and mentally.

The girl said she no longer felt comfortable around men, including her relatives. Although she desperately needed counseling, her mother could not afford the services.

In her written post, the girl said she feels like a lesser person and may stay that way for life.

When asked by the court for an answer, the stepfather, who pleaded guilty, said he could not deny the victim’s feelings and blamed himself. He asked the court for leniency because the girl and two other children looked up to him.

“I wronged her, but I still consider her my child to care for. She has two siblings aged 10 and seven that I have to look after,” he said.

In sentencing, Gwazemba agreed with the state that the rape had aggravating circumstances considering the use of a knife.

The prevalence of rape was worrying and a message needed to be sent to other potential offenders, he said.

The consistent facts were that the stepfather and his victim accompanied his wife to board a bus to Harare on May 6 this year. On the evening of the same day, he raped his stepchild and threatened to kill him.

That morning, when he left his phone on the charger, she told her mother about her experience, who told her to report to the police immediately, which led to his arrest.

Will brought Muleya to criminal liability.