A 34-year-old Mberengwa man has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison after being convicted of raping his 16-year-old relative on two separate occasions.
The Zvishavane Regional Magistrates’ Court handed down a 40-year sentence, comprising 20 years for each count, which will run concurrently.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the offender, who is the victim’s brother-in-law, committed the offences in February 2026 while they were residing at the same homestead in Village Funyisai.
In the first incident, the court heard that the accused lured the victim into his bedroom, locked the door, and raped her. He then allegedly threatened to kill her with an axe if she disclosed the assault.
In a second incident later that month, the offender followed the victim into a nearby forest where she had gone to collect firewood, tripped her, and raped her again.
The abuse came to light on March 16, 2026, when the victim confided in her stepmother, prompting an immediate report to the police.
