Grandfather charged with sexually abusing granddaughter (2)

An 88 grandfather and polygamist has been charged for sexually abusing his two-year-old grand-daughter.
 
Mqibeli Sibanda, of Ndamuleni Village in Lupane, denied the charge before Hwange magistrate Dambudzo Malunga on Monday.

The court heard, throught Sifelumusa Fuzane, that on May 22 this year just after 11AM, the alleged victim's mother left her in the custody of Sibanda and his disabled wife while she went to fetch water.

It is alleged that while she was away, Sibanda took the child into his hut and sexually assaulted her.
 
When her mother returned, she noticed a change in the complainant's morale and that she was limping.
 
On the same day at around 5PM, said Fuzane, the child's mother was bathing her when she complained of pain in her privates.

On May 29, the baby's father took her to St Luke's Hospital for medical attention where she was examined by a doctor who observed that she had been sexually abused.

Police were called after the child also allegedly made indications she had been abused by her grandfather.

Sibanda, in his defence, says the charges are part of a plot by his sons to have him jailed. He told the court his sons were bitter as they thought he was responsible for their mother's death.
 
He was remanded to June 25 for trial.