HARARE – A 34-year-old man from Mapondo Farm in Raffingora has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl. Th...
HARARE – A 34-year-old man from Mapondo Farm in Raffingora has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl.
The man was convicted and sentenced by the Chinhoyi Regional Court following the incident, which occurred in September 2026.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the man first met the Grade 6 pupil at Stick 1 in Mapondo Farm in August 2026.
He subsequently proposed a romantic relationship with the child.
On September 18, the man contacted the girl, who had returned to Chitungwiza where she attends school, and asked her to travel back to Raffingora.
The NPAZ said he offered to pay her bus fare, after which the girl travelled from Chitungwiza without informing her mother.
Two days later, on September 20, the man arranged to meet the girl in the evening.
At about 7pm, the two met in a bushy area where the man raped the child.
The offence was reported on the same day after a family member discovered messages from the man on the girl’s phone.
The discovery prompted relatives to intervene and report the matter to the police.
The girl subsequently underwent a medical examination as part of the investigation, leading to the man’s arrest.
The case was then prosecuted before the Chinhoyi Regional Court, which convicted the man and sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The conviction highlights the legal consequences for sexual offences involving children, who are protected under Zimbabwean law from sexual exploitation and abuse.
The National Prosecuting Authority condemned sexual violence and abuse against children, saying it remained committed to prosecuting offenders and securing justice for victims.
The authority also said it would continue working to protect vulnerable members of society.
The victim’s identity has not been disclosed to protect her privacy.
