Guard handcuffs, rapes brother's daughter

A security guard based in the sugarcane farming town of Triangle in the Lowveld could not contain his sexual appetite and allegedly handcuffed his brother's 16-year-old daughter before raping her.

Elijah Makana (35) appeared before Masvingo magistrate Lyn Manyika facing two charges of raping his niece, who cannot be named to protect her identity, after cuffing her and stuffing a rag into her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

Makana allegedly raped his niece in November 2013 after summoning her to do his dishes on two separate occasions when his wife was away.

For the State, Mukai Mutume told the court that Makana allegedly tripped the girl from behind as she was doing the dishes and then handcuffed her hands behind, stuffed a rag in her mouth and raped her once.

He allegedly threatened the girl with unspecified action if she revealed the rape to anyone and also promised her some gifts to keep her silent.

He called the girl three days later and cuffed her again, but she screamed before he could stuff a piece of cloth in her mouth.

Makana went on to rape her once, but neighbours who heard the screams raised the alarm with the girl's father who interrogated her and she spilled the beans. The matter was reported to police, leading to Makana's arrest.

In his defence, Makana shocked the court saying his niece was his lover and they had had consensual sex.

Manyika remanded Makana out of custody to March 24.