A 70-year-old man from Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court for repeatedly raping his 11-year-old granddaughter over a period of more than three years.
A 70-year-old man from Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly raping his 11-year-old granddaughter over a period of more than three years.
The man was convicted by the Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court following revelations that he sexually abused the child on several occasions between November 2022 and March 2026.
According to details released by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the first reported incident occurred in November 2022 when the victim was staying at her grandfather’s homestead.
The court heard that the elderly man took the girl into his bedroom hut, forcibly removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her.
The abuse allegedly continued on several occasions over the following years, with the victim remaining exposed to the offender until March 2026.
The matter eventually came to light during a counselling session when the girl disclosed what had been happening to her. Her disclosure prompted further action, including a medical examination and the subsequent arrest of the accused.
The case was then brought before the Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court, which convicted the 70-year-old man and sentenced him to an effective 15 years in prison.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe condemned the abuse, particularly the involvement of a family member who was expected to provide the child with care and protection.
In its statement, the authority said it strongly condemned all forms of sexual violence, particularly offences committed against vulnerable children by individuals entrusted with their welfare.
The NPAZ also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of sexual offences are brought before the courts and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The conviction highlights the importance of disclosures in cases involving child sexual abuse, particularly where the alleged offender is a family member or someone within the child’s immediate living environment.
The authority’s statement did not provide further details about the offender’s identity or the specific circumstances surrounding the counselling session.
The sentence brings the case to a conclusion at the trial court level, with the convicted man facing an effective 15 years in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of his granddaughter.
