Man brags about breaking his daughter's virginity

The Chasenyama community in Chimanimani is grappling to stomach a bizarre incestuous affair in which a local man brags about breaking his daughter's virginity, and siring a child with her in an abominable act blamed on the formers witchcraft  shenanigans.

The incident which has left tongues wagging in Chief Mutambara's area came to light after the daughter (18) eloped to another man aware that the pregnancy belonged to her father, Nhamo Murawu. However, after giving birth, the newly born baby refused to suckle, forcing its mother to reveal having romantic relationship with her father, whom the community suspects of practicing witchcraft.

A baby's refusal to breastfeed in an African culture usually conotates misdemeanors that would have been done by the mother of the child. The baby, surprisingly, started breastfeeding after the confessions. What further baffled the community were revelations that Murawu, at the centre of the controversy went on to accept the lobola for his daughter immediately after she had eloped, even though he had deflowered and impregnated her.

Murawu, whose name when literally translated means law, has since appeared before Chief Mutambara's traditional court and admitted bedding his own daughter and siring a baby. He was last week fined one beast and two goats for defiling the Chief's righteous community. Hundreds of curious villagers attended the court session.

According to sources, Murawu admitted to have committed the offence by confirming that he was 'head over heels' in love with his own daughter. Murawu's daughter (name withheld) is still with her husband in Bocha.

Chief Mutambara described the adulterous affair as an abomination.

"She revealed that she was bedding her father although she claimed that he (Murawu) would occasionally appear in her dreams and have sex with her unknowingly. She defended her father all the way. She, however, had to confess after her baby had refused to breastfeed. It seems Murawu had an intimate relationship with her daughter such that she was never strong enough to name and shame him. The whole family defended him. It is shocking that even Murawu's daughter and wife are all behind this shameful act," said Chief Mutambara.

Murawu stays with his three sons, wife and daughter in a one-roomed thatches hut. Headman Jinga described him as a notorious man.

"He is notorious. He bragged before the court plainly that, 'Vanhu vese ava vanotsvagei pano ini ndakanyenga mwana wangu ndega'," said Headman.

Jinga also said the would soon engage a traditional healer who would verify Murawu's motive. He said he believes it was a case of witchcraft.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Enock Chishiri, said even if Murawu had sex with his daughter's consent, it was still a criminal offence.

"It is incest. Having sex in a prohibited relationship like father and daughter is a crime.Both parties should be arrested if the complainant is over 16 unless if she is under 18, the accused will be charged with rape," he said.