Late father exposes daughter's rape

A DEAD father fought in his grave to expose a year-long rape case that had been perpetrated on his daughter by appearing to his wife in a dream and instructing her to ask their four daughters if any of them had been abused.

This came out at the Rusape Magistrates' Courts during a rape trial in which Trust Mazura (40) of Munetsi Village under Chief Makoni was found guilty of raping the 14-year-old minor.

Although the accused's friend who is an uncle to the victim knew about the rape, he had swept it under the carpet to protect his buddy.

The matter came to light after the girl's mother was instructed in a dream by her late husband to ask their four daughters if all was well.

The victim spilled the beans leading to Mazura's arrest.

Manica Post reported that District public prosecutor, Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that the crime was perpetrated in November 2014.

"On that date, the complainant was left in the company of the accused person as her uncle embarked on a journey. The accused proposed love to the girl, but she turned him down. He then ordered her to enter his bedroom, but she refused. Mazura went to a nearby bush and armed himself with a stick. He ordered the minor to enter the bedroom, threatening to beat her up if she refused.

"She complied and he raped her once. When the girl's uncle returned she told him about the incident, but he did nothing," he said.

The case came to light on October 24 last year when the girls' mother had the unusual dream.

After the dream she asked her daughters and the victim spilled the beans.

Rusape regional prosecutor, Livingstone Chipadza slapped Mazura with a 15-year jail term, of which three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

In an unrelated rape case, a 73-year-old grandpa from Buhera, Knowledge Mapuranga was jailed 15 years after he was convicted of raping a nine-year-old neighbour.

"On February 1, at around 8am, the complainant was left at home alone by her brother. She went to a nearby field to weed and she saw the accused person sitting in his field which was adjacent to theirs. The complainant greeted him, but he remained quite.

"In no time, the accused approached the girl, took away a hoe she was holding and threw it into a bush. He grabbed her and raped her once. She tried to scream, but he covered her mouth with his hands," said Mr Mutyasira.

After committing the offence, Mapuranga threatened the girl with death if she ever told anyone.

A medical examination done on the minor at Murambinda Mission Hospital confirmed the abuse.

Mapuranga had pleaded not guilty, saying the whole case was fabricated by his neighbours who were jealousy of his farming activities.

He was found guilty as charged.