Loraine Phiri
A 37-year-old man from Chief Malisa’s Area in Silobela has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in prison by the Kwekwe Regional Court after being convicted on two counts of raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), ” on 17 August 2025 at around 3pm the juvenile’s mother went to the shops, leaving the juvenile and her cousins playing outside as the offender had gone to work.”
The offender returned home at night and found the children asleep in their room. Under the guise of wanting the victim to speak with her uncle on the phone, the offender woke the 8-year-old to confirm her mother’s absence. “He lifted the victim and placed her on his bed, removed her clothes, and raped her once,” the NPAZ stated.
When the victim screamed in pain, “the offender made her lie on her stomach and raped her again,” silencing her with death threats, according to the authority.
The crime was uncovered when the victim’s mother returned home around 9:30 PM and found the offender sleeping naked with the victim, whose underwear was partially removed. “She asked the victim what took place, and the victim revealed the abuse,” the NPAZ explained, noting that the mother immediately filed a report.
Following the trial, the Kwekwe Regional Court imposed an 18-year sentence.
The NPAZ issued a stern warning to those who prey on children. “Let this serve as a warning to all who would consider such a heinous act: you will be found, you will be prosecuted, and justice will be served.”
In a separate case in Gwanda, a 43-year-old man from Humbane Village, Chief Malaba, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter. The NPAZ reported that on 29 June 2025, at around 5:30 AM, “the complainant and the accused were sleeping in the same room at the family home when the mother of the child briefly went away.” The authority stated, “The man took advantage of the situation and went on to rape the child.”
The crime was later reported, and “evidence presented in court confirmed the offence,” according to the NPAZ. The Gwanda Regional Magistrates’ Court emphasized the gravity of the crime, noting that “the man had violated the trust expected of a parent and emphasized that such crimes cause lasting harm to children.” The NPAZ added, “Community members are urged to be vigilant, safeguard children, and promptly report any suspected cases of abuse.”
