Gwanda Man Jailed 15 Years for Raping Woman Twice

Gwanda Man Jailed 15 Years for Raping Woman Twice

A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for raping a 23-year-old woman twice in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has announced.

The Gwanda Regional Magistrates’ Court convicted the man on two counts of rape following incidents that occurred on October 14 and 15, 2026.

“The NPAZ welcomes the conviction and sentencing of the offender, which reflects the seriousness with which the courts treat crimes of sexual violence,” the authority said in a bulletin issued on October 29.

According to the NPAZ, the first attack occurred near some ruined houses close to Mount Gazalet on October 14.

The offender grabbed the woman from behind, produced an okapi knife and threatened her before dragging her into bushes south of Old Gwanda Road.

When she resisted, he struck her four times on the cheeks, removed her clothes and raped her.

Later that day, the offender took the victim to a secluded shack south-east of the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road, where he continued to hold her against her will.

On October 15, he tied her to a tree using shoelaces before returning, untying her and taking her into his shack, where he raped her again.

The victim eventually managed to escape after using a small green pocket lighter to burn through the shoelaces binding her.

She fled and stopped a taxi along the Beitbridge-Gwanda Road, where she reported her ordeal to a passer-by who helped her contact her parents. She subsequently reported the matter to the police, leading to the offender’s arrest and prosecution.

The court sentenced the man to 15 years’ imprisonment for each count, but ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 15-year prison term.

The NPAZ urged members of the public to report cases of sexual violence to the police, stressing the importance of bringing perpetrators to justice.

“Perpetrators of such crimes will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” the authority said.

The case highlights the importance of reporting sexual offences and ensuring survivors receive support while offenders are held accountable through the justice system.