News / National
120 years in jail for serial rapist
21 Jan 2014 at 17:11hrs | Views
A serial rapist, Thomas Chirembwe, has been sentenced to 250 years in prison after being convicted of 21 counts of rape and armed robbery by Harare Regional Magistrate Simon Rodgers Kachambwa.
In a land mark sentence, Magistrate Kachambwa sentenced 30-year old Chirembwe to 250 years in prison, with 60 years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Chirembwe had been convicted on 21 counts of rape and armed robbery.
Magistrate Kachambwa said he exercised lenience after considering that Chirembwe is a first offender, a breadwinner and a father of three.
He however considered that Chirembwe is facing a serious offence and must be removed from society, saying a long custodial sentence will meet justice.
He described Chirembwe's behaviour as ‘worse than a wild beast', adding that he had turned crime into a profession to earn himself a living.
Chirembwe was facing 30 counts of rape and armed robbery, but was however convicted of 21 counts after nine other witnesses failed to turn up to give evidence.
The sentence becomes the longest after a 90-year prison term meted on another Harare serial rapist, Mlamuleli Mpofu, who was sentenced by Regional Magistrate Peter Kumbawa more than two years ago.
Soon after the sentence, Chirembwe's victims celebrated saying such a sentence is deterrent enough to those who habour thought of committing heinous crimes.
Most relatives shade tears after such custodial sentences have been meted on their relatives. Hoever for Chirembwe there was no one who showed any grief for him.
Surprisingly, Chirembwe was not remorseful as he remained standing in the dock for a few minutes before he was whisked away by the prison authorities.
In a land mark sentence, Magistrate Kachambwa sentenced 30-year old Chirembwe to 250 years in prison, with 60 years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Chirembwe had been convicted on 21 counts of rape and armed robbery.
Magistrate Kachambwa said he exercised lenience after considering that Chirembwe is a first offender, a breadwinner and a father of three.
He however considered that Chirembwe is facing a serious offence and must be removed from society, saying a long custodial sentence will meet justice.
Chirembwe was facing 30 counts of rape and armed robbery, but was however convicted of 21 counts after nine other witnesses failed to turn up to give evidence.
The sentence becomes the longest after a 90-year prison term meted on another Harare serial rapist, Mlamuleli Mpofu, who was sentenced by Regional Magistrate Peter Kumbawa more than two years ago.
Soon after the sentence, Chirembwe's victims celebrated saying such a sentence is deterrent enough to those who habour thought of committing heinous crimes.
Most relatives shade tears after such custodial sentences have been meted on their relatives. Hoever for Chirembwe there was no one who showed any grief for him.
Surprisingly, Chirembwe was not remorseful as he remained standing in the dock for a few minutes before he was whisked away by the prison authorities.
Source - zbc
