News / National
92 year old rapist dies before completing his sentence
25 Oct 2011 at 04:36hrs | Views
Magura Rukombe, a 92-YEAR-OLD prisoner who was serving six years for raping a mentally-challenged relative died last week at Parirenyatwa Hospital before completing his sentence.
Rukombe of Mugugu Village in Guruve died last Thursday after a long illness, a year before completing his sentence.
Rukombe was father to the late Mbira music maestro Edna Chizema popularly known as Ambuya Maduve. He was serving the jail term at Harare Central Prison but he had been taken to hospital under prison guard when his condition deteriorated.
Rukombe was buried in Guruve courtesy of the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender.
At the time of his death, Rukombe had granted Zacro power of attorney to manage the rentals of his Highfield house for the upkeep of his little children with a second wife in Guruve. In an interview, Zacro programmes director Mr Elisha Chidombwe said his organisation was willing to continue managing the property for the sake of the minor children left behind by the old man.
"We are comfortable continuing with the management of the property as per the late old man's wish. He left behind some minors and the property if well-managed, will assist in the upkeep of the children," he said.
The organisation met the funeral and burial expenses. Rukombe was jailed 10 years by Bindura regional magistrate Mrs Mavis Kudumba in 2009 but four years were conditionally suspended leaving him to serve six years. Ms Kudumba said the man was only saved by his age. He denied the charges during the trial saying the 15-year-old girl was influenced by his enemies to frame him.
However, the court convicted him on the strength of overwhelming evidence. Bindura area public prosecutor Mr Emmanuel Muchenga established that on December 16, 2008, the man took advantage of the mentally challenged girl and called her to his bedroom saying he needed drinking water.
Rukombe of Mugugu Village in Guruve died last Thursday after a long illness, a year before completing his sentence.
Rukombe was father to the late Mbira music maestro Edna Chizema popularly known as Ambuya Maduve. He was serving the jail term at Harare Central Prison but he had been taken to hospital under prison guard when his condition deteriorated.
Rukombe was buried in Guruve courtesy of the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the Offender.
"We are comfortable continuing with the management of the property as per the late old man's wish. He left behind some minors and the property if well-managed, will assist in the upkeep of the children," he said.
The organisation met the funeral and burial expenses. Rukombe was jailed 10 years by Bindura regional magistrate Mrs Mavis Kudumba in 2009 but four years were conditionally suspended leaving him to serve six years. Ms Kudumba said the man was only saved by his age. He denied the charges during the trial saying the 15-year-old girl was influenced by his enemies to frame him.
However, the court convicted him on the strength of overwhelming evidence. Bindura area public prosecutor Mr Emmanuel Muchenga established that on December 16, 2008, the man took advantage of the mentally challenged girl and called her to his bedroom saying he needed drinking water.
Source - TH
