Murehwa – Police in Mashonaland East Province have apprehended a 31-year-old man from Village Head Nyamutumbu’s area, under Chief Mangwende in Murehwa, following allegations of rape against his niece. The incident has prompted renewed calls for vigilance and protection of young women in the community.
Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi, the Mashonaland East police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest and stated that investigations are ongoing to gather comprehensive evidence related to the case.
The alleged crime occurred late last year, around 10 PM, when the 21-year-old victim was left at home by her aunt, along with her aunt’s child and husband, who had travelled to Bindura to visit a sick relative.
According to reports, the accused made sexual advances towards his niece, which she refused. He then allegedly followed her to the room where she was sleeping, forcibly restrained her, and committed the act of rape.
Following the alleged assault, the perpetrator reportedly threatened the victim with death if she disclosed the incident to anyone.
It wasn’t until the 20th of last month that the victim confided in her husband about the ordeal. He then accompanied her to the police station on the 3rd of this month to file a formal report.
“Musami police attended the scene, and the accused was arrested. The rape victim was taken to St. Pauls Musami Mission Hospital where she was examined and treated,” Inspector Chazovachiyi confirmed.
“As the police, we are continuing to investigate this case with the aim of having complete evidence that may be relevant to this case,” he added.
In a separate incident, police in Mutawatawa are also investigating a similar case that reportedly occurred on February 24th at night in the Sabhuku Purazi area, under Chief Chitsungo in Pfungwe.
In light of these disturbing incidents, Inspector Chazovachiyi has urged the public to prioritise the safety and well-being of young women.
“We encourage parents to monitor the behaviour of their daughters because of the issue of women being raped. People should be careful regarding the commission of such crimes and should not overly trust the character of all people, whether relatives, friends or neighbours,” he cautioned.
He further emphasised the importance of promptly reporting such cases to the police to ensure that victims receive timely assistance, prevent potential unplanned pregnancies, and mitigate the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
“These cases should be reported to the police quickly so that those who have been raped can be helped in time to prevent unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases that may be transmitted,” Inspector Chazovachiyi stated.
The police are committed to thoroughly investigating these cases and bringing the perpetrators to justice. The public is encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement and report any information that may assist in these investigations.
