By Lerato Ndlovu
A 33-year-old Gutu man who sexually assaulted and impregnated his mentally challenged 13-year-old niece in 2018 was slapped with a 16-year jail term by Masvingo Magistrate recently.
Emmanuel Mapengo, who resides at Soloma Village in Tongogara under Gutu, was arrested and charged on a count of rape of his 13-year-old niece, a mentally incompetent juvenile incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse.
The court heard that Mapengo sexually assaulted the then 13-year-old minor when she was at her mother’s maternal home where the accused was staying from a period extending from January 2018 and June 25, 2018.
The accused is also said to have followed the complaint to the fields where he ordered her to undress and lay facing upwards while he undressed before indulging in the sexual act once inside a shed.
The court heard that Mapengo continued to have sexual intercourse with the child in the same way on diverse occasions before her grandmother started suspecting that the minor was pregnant.
A police report was made leading to the arrest of Mapengo after investigation.
The juvenile was then sent to the hospital where she was examined and a report was produced in court as an exhibit.
Before handing the sentence, presiding over the case, Masvingo Magistrate, Dambudzo Malunga, said the accused was ruthless as he had no right to have sexual intercourse with the said minor.
Malunga sentenced Mapengo to 16 years imprisonment and 2 years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Edwin Mbavarira prosecuted for the state.
