A 47-year-old Nyabira man was slapped with an effective 17-year prison sentence by the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for the horrific rape of his eight-year-old neighbour, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has confirmed.
The court heard that the offender lured the young victim into his home on June 8, 2026, where he undressed and brutally assaulted her.
“On 8 June 2026, the victim visited the offender’s home. When the victim entered the offenders house, the offender undressed and raped her,” said NPAZ.
In a chilling attempt to silence the child, the court heard that the man attempted to buy her silence with sweets.
“To conceal the crime, the offender gave the victim a packet of biscuits and sweets and instructed her not to tell anyone what had happened.”
The heinous act was only uncovered when the child’s mother spotted her leaving the man’s house. While the child initially claimed she had fallen asleep inside, her stepfather’s persistent questioning eventually forced the truth.
“However, upon further inquiry by her stepfather, the victim revealed that she had been raped by the neighbour,” the statement read.
A formal report was immediately lodged at Nyabira Police Station, leading to the swift arrest and conviction of the offender.
The NPAZ reaffirmed its stance on child protection, declaring:
“The NPAZ remains committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and ensuring that offenders who violate positions of trust face the full force of the law.”
