News / National
Two men rape 18-month old baby for ritual purposes
27 Feb 2012 at 06:16hrs | Views
A cellphone dropped at a crime scene gave away two men from Muzarabani who raped an 18-month old baby for ritual purposes in a bid to enhance their restaurant business.
The two assailants appeared before a Guruve magistrate charged with rape. One of the men told the court that a traditional healer had advised him to use the blood from the baby's private parts when cooking sadza so that people would continue to patronise his restaurant.
Givemore Jokonya (30) and Letmore Masango (26) under Chief Katsekete appeared before Guruve magistrate Mr Silas Chitongo, who remanded them in custody to today.
The state led by prosecutor Mr Courage Manyengavana alleged that on Christmas Day last year at around 10pm, Jokonya and Masango entered the kitchen hut where the victim was sleeping with her mother.
Masango allegedly approached the mother of the baby girl and grabbed her by the leg as she slept.
The woman managed to free herself and fled towards the village head's homestead.
Masango allegedly gave chase while Jokonya remained behind in the kitchen hut where the complainant was sleeping.
When he failed to catch the woman, Masango returned where he had left Jokonya.
The village head teamed up with other villagers and accompanied the mother of the victim back to her house where they found the two and the baby gone.
Jokonya reportedly raped the minor while Masango watched.
The two then left the baby in a nearby bush and went away leaving her crying.
The following day the mother picked up a cellphone belonging to Masango near her house leading to his arrest.
Masango then implicated Jokonya who was also arrested. Later that day the mother heard her daughter crying in the bush and discovered that she was raped. The child was rushed to St Albert's Mission Hospital for medical examination.
Masango told the court that he had assisted Jokonya to rape the baby because he had promised to give him two cattle.
Jokonya said a traditional healer had advised him to use the blood from the private parts when preparing sadza so that people would continue to come and buy at his restaurant.
The two assailants appeared before a Guruve magistrate charged with rape. One of the men told the court that a traditional healer had advised him to use the blood from the baby's private parts when cooking sadza so that people would continue to patronise his restaurant.
Givemore Jokonya (30) and Letmore Masango (26) under Chief Katsekete appeared before Guruve magistrate Mr Silas Chitongo, who remanded them in custody to today.
The state led by prosecutor Mr Courage Manyengavana alleged that on Christmas Day last year at around 10pm, Jokonya and Masango entered the kitchen hut where the victim was sleeping with her mother.
Masango allegedly approached the mother of the baby girl and grabbed her by the leg as she slept.
The woman managed to free herself and fled towards the village head's homestead.
Masango allegedly gave chase while Jokonya remained behind in the kitchen hut where the complainant was sleeping.
When he failed to catch the woman, Masango returned where he had left Jokonya.
The village head teamed up with other villagers and accompanied the mother of the victim back to her house where they found the two and the baby gone.
Jokonya reportedly raped the minor while Masango watched.
The two then left the baby in a nearby bush and went away leaving her crying.
The following day the mother picked up a cellphone belonging to Masango near her house leading to his arrest.
Masango then implicated Jokonya who was also arrested. Later that day the mother heard her daughter crying in the bush and discovered that she was raped. The child was rushed to St Albert's Mission Hospital for medical examination.
Masango told the court that he had assisted Jokonya to rape the baby because he had promised to give him two cattle.
Jokonya said a traditional healer had advised him to use the blood from the private parts when preparing sadza so that people would continue to come and buy at his restaurant.
Source - New Ziana
