Blind man rapes 3-year-old niece

OFFICIALS struggled to drag a 76-year-old visually impaired man into a courtroom as he refused to stand trial for allegedly raping his three-year-old niece.

Ndawana Phinias Ndlovu, of Lupanda Village under Chief Mabhikwa, later attempted to undress in the dock in protest as he refused to respond to questions from the magistrate.

Hwange regional magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga did not ask Ndlovu to plead and remanded him in custody to July 8.

The magistrate ordered that he be examined by two psychiatrists.

Prison officers and court orderlies had to intervene to subdue Ndlovu.

Ndlovu allegedly raped the toddler on May 20 this year.

"On May 20, at 9AM, the little girl was playing behind the accused's bedroom hut when he lifted her and entered the room with her," said prosecutor Mr Tawanda Sigauke.

While in the hut, Ndlovu allegedly placed the girl on a bed and undressed her before raping her once, the court was told.

It is alleged that Ndlovu was disturbed by a female relative who came looking for the girl and entered his bedroom hut where he caught him pants down raping the girl.

A report was made to the police leading to Ndlovu's arrest.