Mpofu (70) from Jacaranda suburb in Gwanda was not asked to
plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Caroline Matanga facing a
rape charge last week. He was remanded in custody to 23 October.
Prosecuting, Mr Noel Mandebvu said Mpofu raped the minor
once sometime last year and three times this year. The court heard that Mpofu
would threaten to chase the complainant away from his home or stop supporting
her if she reported the matter.
“Sometime during the year 2019 the complainant was at
accused person’s place of residence where she used to stay and one night when
she was about to sleep the accused person went into the complainant’s bedroom
and asked her to polish his shoes.
“Complainant woke up and as she was receiving the shoes
from the accused person, he pushed her onto the bed and raped her. Accused
person went further to rape the complainant on three other occasions this year
and would threaten to chase her away from his house or stop paying her school
fees if she revealed the matter to anyone,” he said.
Mr Mandebvu said the complainant later revealed the matter
to her grandmother sometime in August and the matter was reported to the police
on 25 September. Mpofu was arrested on Wednesday last week following police
investigations.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old teenager has appeared in court for
allegedly raping his 11-year-old neighbour. The teenager who cannot be named
for ethical reasons, who is also a school dropout was convicted on his own plea
of guilty to rape by Gwanda regional magistrate, Mrs Sibonginkosi Mkandla last
week. Passing of his sentence was postponed to this week.
Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Nyoni said the teenager raped
the complainant who is a Grade Four pupil at Mbokodo Primary School in Filabusi
after he met her while she was on her way to school.
“The complainant tried to scream but the accused person
covered her mouth with a jersey and raped her. The accused person threatened to
kill the complainant if she revealed the matter to anyone. The complainant then
reported the matter to her grandmother on 25 April,” he said.
Mr Nyoni said the complainant’s mother escorted her
daughter to the police station where she reported the matter. Sunday News
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