Jailed for raping 13-yer-old

GWERU – A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl.
Tawanda Nyazungu pleaded not guilty to rape charges when he appeared before Gweru Magistrate
Christopher Maturure in court but he was however, found guilty after a full trial.
Two years of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour and
Nyazungu will therefore serve an effective 16 years in prison.
The State led by Prosecutor Sibangani Dube said that on May 21, 2021 at around 5pm, the 13-year-
old girl was coming from school when Nyazungu emerged from the bush.
Nyazungu, who was armed with a catapult and a knife ordered the minor to stop screaming when he
dragged her into the bush.
The court heard that Nyazungu then tied the minor to a tree using a mutondo bark rope and
removed her clothes. He stuffed the minor’s mouth with a plastic containing tobacco and raped her
once.
Dube said after raping the minor, Nyazungu loosened his grip and the girl escaped.
“She went straight to her house leaving behind a satchel with books and clothes that Nyazungu had
removed. The minor told her grandmother what had happened and she escorted her to ZRP
Chironde base and reported the case,” said the Public Prosecutor.
The police attended the scene and arrested Nyazungu.