Chivi (Masvingo Star-New Ziana) – A Chivi man who raped a bartender after he had finished drinking beer at the bar has been jailed for an effective 15 years by a Masvingo magistrate.

The man, who was convicted on his own plea of guilty, was initially slapped with 18 years imprisonment by regional magistrate, Dambudzo Malunga.

The magistrate however, conditionally suspended three years of the prison term for five years.

It was the State case that on November 18, 2018, the man was drinking beer at a bar in Chivi and demanded to have sexual intercourse with the bartender but she refused.

The next day, the man was again at the bar till around mid-night. Shortly after other patrons who were in the bar went away but the man remained behind.

When the bartender went to lock the front door of the bar, the man hid behind the bar counter and entered into the bartender’s room without her consent.

When she entered her room, the man locked the door with the key which was on the door and demanded to have sexual intercourse with her but she again refused.

The man then produced a knife, threatened to kill her and ordered her to lie on the ground. He raped her once, after which he fell asleep.

The bartender sneaked out of the room and informed her employer through his mobile phone about the attack.

She then spent the rest of the night in the bar. A report was made at Madamombe Police Base by the employer leading to the arrest of the man and recovery of the knife.

Richard Nyamuwomba appeared for the State.

Masvingo Star-New Ziana