Harare – A wave of shocking rape cases has gripped the nation, highlighting the ongoing scourge of sexual violence in Zimbabwe.
In a particularly disturbing incident, a 60-year-old woman from Somerby, in the Zvimba District, was brutally raped seven times in a single night by her neighbour. Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, a 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his 18-year-old girlfriend.
The Zvimba case involves Kirimasiyo Zulu, 45, who allegedly broke into the elderly woman’s hut around 1am after she had repeatedly rejected his advances. According to reports, Zulu had persistently proposed love to the woman, but she had consistently turned him down.
The harrowing ordeal began when Zulu forced his way into the woman’s home. The victim initially managed to escape, but Zulu pursued her, pinned her down, tore her undergarments, and proceeded to rape her seven times without using protection. She was finally released around 3am and immediately reported the crime to the police, leading to Zulu’s arrest.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the arrest, stating: “Police arrested a man for raping a woman aged 60. She woke up and heard the accused banging the door while at the same time shouting for the complainant to open the door. The accused person then forced the door open and gained entry into the hut. She tried in vain to shout for help while fleeing. She was raped and held hostage. Complainant was escorted to Sally Mugabe Family Support Centre for medical assistance.”
In a separate incident, Mthulisi Mpofu, 28, from Bulawayo’s Rangemore suburb, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for the rape of his 18-year-old girlfriend. Mpofu pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze on Thursday.
During sentencing, Mrs Marondedze emphasised the emotional distress suffered by the victim and deemed Mpofu a danger to society due to his predatory behaviour. “To ensure girls are protected from offenders like you, I am sentencing you to an effective 15 years in jail,” she ruled.
The court heard that Mpofu committed the offence on November 7 last year when the complainant visited him at his residence. Prosecutor Ms Christine Manyika explained that the incident occurred after Mpofu instructed his nephew, who was present at the house, to leave.
“The complainant found Mpofu with his nephew inside their house and he instructed the nephew to go outside,” said Ms Manyika. “After that Mpofu told the complainant that he was going to have sexual intercourse with her. He then forcibly removed the complainant’s clothes and raped her.”
The complainant testified that she had gone to Mpofu’s place around 7am to borrow a broom. “I went to his place to ask for the broom so that I could sweep our yard. I found him with his nephew who is around nine years old,” she said.
She recounted how Mpofu sent his nephew outside before dragging her to the main bedroom. “After his nephew had left, he dragged me to the main bedroom. I tried to fight him but he overpowered me and laid me on the floor. He then proceeded to remove my clothes and raped me while I screamed for help,” she said.
