A 32-year-old man, Tichaona Chakupa was last week slapped with a 20-year jail term by Marondera magistrate, Clever Tsikwa for raping and infecting his eight-year-old step daughter with HIV.
BY WADZANAI MADHIBHA
Chakupa had pleaded not guilty to the rape charges but was found guilty owing to overwhelming evidence against him.
Two years of the sentence were suspended on condition that Chakupa would not commit the same offence within the next five years.
In passing sentence, Tsikwa said Chakupa deserved a custodial sentence because rape traumatised the victim and because he had infected the minor with the virus that causes Aids.
The court heard that sometime this month, Chakupa and his wife (mother of the complainant) left the house going to work at a farm, leaving the minor with her two brothers aged two and five.
Chakupa returned from work around midday and prepared food for the children.
He ordered the two brothers to go and play outside and told the complainant to go to his bedroom to clean it.
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The court further heard that Chakupa followed her in the bedroom, held her hands, lifted the girl and laid her on the bed before raping her once.
The juvenile waited for her mother to return from work and narrated to her what had happened to her. The mother took her to the police and made a report leading to her husband’s arrest.
