Man (74) claims he's in love with 9-year-old girl he raped

A Filabusi man, 74, from Mathabisa Village stunned the court last Friday when he claimed that he was in love with a nine-year-old girl he allegedly raped on three occasions after luring her with R4.

James Ndlovu of Mathabisa village under Chief Maduna in Avoca was not asked to plead to three counts of rape when he appeared before Filabusi magistrate Mzingaye Moyo.

When the magistrate asked him if he understood the charges, Ndlovu said the girl consented as they were in love.

The magistrate remanded him in custody to January 10 2014 to appear before Matabeleland South Regional Court magistrate in Gwanda.

He was advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

The prosecutor Smart Tafireyi told the court that sometime between December 15 and 23, on three occasions Ndlovu would lure the girl to either the bush or his home with money before allegedly raping her.

It is the State case that in the first count he gave the girl R1 and another R2 when he raped her for the second time.

Ndlovu gave the girl another R2 when he raped her for the third time.

The abuse came to light when the girl confided to her parents who made a report to the police, leading to Ndlovu's arrest.