The Sunday News
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
A 52-year-old man from Redcliff has appeared in court for allegedly raping his nine-year-old niece who was left in his custody while the mother attended an all-night church service.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gokwe magistrate Mr Hillary Ndlovu last week.
He was remanded in custody to 11 October for trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Edina Munjoma told the court that on 29 September, the man was left in the custody of the juvenile by her mother.
They made arrangements that the man would sleep on the bed while the girl slept on the floor. In the middle of the night, the man told the girl to join him on the bed and she complied.
While on the bed, he asked the young girl to play with his erect manhood and she refused. He, however, forcibly fondled her before raping her.
The man then threatened the girl with unspecified action if she told anyone what had happened.
The girl was not silenced by the threat and she told her two sisters who reported the case to their aunt.
The aunt reported the matter to Redcliff Police Station leading to the man’s arrest.
The girl was taken to Kwekwe District Hospital for medical examination.
