Soldier (36) rapes landlord's 4-year-old daughter

A 36-year-old soldier from Redcliff has been slapped with a 20-year-jail sentence for raping his landlord's four-year-old daughter.

The court heard how the military man called the defenceless minor who was playing with her friends into his living room and forced her to lie on her back before raping her once.

Vengesai Matema of Simbi Park appeared before Gokwe-Kwekwe Regional magistrate, Amos Mbobo facing one count of rape.

Mbobo convicted Matema despite his plea of not guilty after a protracted trial which lasted over a year.

He sentenced the soldier to 20 years in prison and suspended three years on condition that he does not commit a similar crime in the next five years.

Prosecutor Robert Ndlala told the court that sometime in February 2013 on a date unknown to the prosecutor; the tot arrived home from crèche.

The court heard that the girl found Matema alone at home and started playing with friends around the yard.

"Matema called the girl and took her to his living room where he instructed the juvenile to lie on her back before forcibly undressing her," said Ndlala.

He said Matema raped the girl once before threatening her with unspecified action if she reported the matter to anyone.

The court heard that the matter came to light when the girl's mother noticed that her child was having difficulties in walking.

Ndlala said the girl was taken to Rusununguko clinic in Redcliff where she was examined by the nurses.

"The girl's mother was informed that the child had been sexually abused and advised her to report the matter to the police," he said.

The matter was reported to police leading to Matema's arrest.