The Sunday News
Richard Muponde, Sunday News Correspondent
A LUPANE man who had spent two months without enjoying conjugal rights following a domestic dispute with his wife, will languish in jail for the next 13 years after he failed to control his sexual appetite and raped a 14-year-old girl.
Mihlayifani Moyo (28) of Ehlilo Village was convicted on his own plea of guilty to rape when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate for Western Division, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga.
He was sentenced to an effective 13-year jail term.
Moyo stunned the court in mitigation when he revealed that he raped the minor because he was sex starved since he had picked a fight with his wife who in turn denied him conjugal rights.
“I thought I had found a wife since I was having marital problems with my wife and she was denying me a chance to be intimate with her for two months,” said Moyo.
Prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Sigauke told the court that on 18 July this year at around 7pm, the girl together with two of her siblings left their parents’ homestead to their uncle’s place where they wanted to spend the night.
While on their way, they met Moyo who was coming from the opposite direction.
The court heard that Moyo suddenly grabbed the minor by the collar of her jacket and started assaulting her siblings who ran away from the scene and he remained with the girl.
He then asked her to choose between being intimate with him or risk being killed but the girl did not respond.
Moyo drew a knife from his pocket and dragged the girl into the bush and undressed her.
He tripped her to the ground and raped her once.
After raping her, Moyo released her with a stern warning not to reveal the matter to anyone or face death if she behaved otherwise.
She left and went to her uncle’s homestead where she narrated her ordeal at the hands of Moyo.
After a week, she was accompanied by her mother to make a report at Lupane Police Station.
Investigations by the police led to Moyo’s arrest and a docket of rape was compiled against him.
