A Bindura man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the repeated rape of his eight-year-old stepdaughter.
Bindura regional magistrate Elisha Singano handed down the hefty sentence after convicting Bhekimpilo Ndlovu on four counts of rape, committed on different occasions.
The court, led by prosecutor Clever Nyapfani, heard that the abuse began in August. On the first occasion, Ndlovu was left alone with the child and threatened her with an axe before raping her in the kitchen.
In a second incident, the girl was lighting a fire in the kitchen when Ndlovu called her to his bedroom.
After she refused, he followed her, carried her to his room, and raped her.
The prosecutor detailed a third instance where Ndlovu took the complainant from where she was playing with friends and raped her in his room.
The final rape occurred on September 24.
The crime was exposed when the victim confided in a friend, who subsequently informed her mother, leading to Ndlovu's arrest.
- Rapist stepfather jailed for 60 years
