Sculptor ‘rapes’ 10-year-old

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A 49-YEAR OLD sculptor has been arraigned before the Zvishavane courts on allegations of twice raping his friend’s 10-year-old daughter, whom he had been assigned to babysit for two days.

A 49-YEAR OLD sculptor has been arraigned before the Zvishavane courts on allegations of twice raping his friend’s 10-year-old daughter, whom he had been assigned to babysit for two days.

ALLIEWAY NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Nabson Rupondo of Chikudze Village, Chief Mtekedza Chivhu, who was left to care for two minors sometime in October last year, denied the rape charges levelled against him, saying he had only inserted his fingers in the girl’s private parts and should be charged with indecent assault.

However, evidence submitted before magistrate Story Rushambwa revealed that Rupondo had actually raped the juvenile twice.

It is the State’s case that sometime in October last year at 1/80 Dadaya turn-off, Zvishavane, Rupondo had sexual intercourse with a 10-year old who was left in his custody after her parents had gone to their rural home.

Prosecutor Sheila Mupindu told the court that during the absence of the complainants’ parents, Rupondo slept in the same room with the two children.

During the first night, Rupondo is alleged to have sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and removed her underwear while she was asleep.

He went on to have sexual intercourse with the minor once.

The minor is alleged to have woken up in shock as Rupondo was having intercourse without her consent.

It is alleged that the child cried for help, but it was to no avail, as the other child did not wake up in fear that the same fate would befall her.

Rupondo is alleged to have raped the girl for the second time the following night while she was asleep and threatened to deal with her if she told anyone.

In the morning, he further threatened the girl, telling her not to inform her mother, as she would be assaulted by her father.

The girl did not tell anyone about the issue, but it only came to light on February 22 2015 when she was asked by her mother after her teacher suspected that she had been sexually abused.

The child was examined at Zvishavane Hospital and a medical report produced revealed that she was raped twice.

The matter was reported to Zvishavane police, leading to Rupondo’s arrest.