Man allegedly rapes girl (13) during social soccer match

A man from Chitete village in Jotsholo is alleged to have dragged a 13 year old girl into the bush during a social soccer match where he allegedly raped her before fleeing when he was nearly caught red handed by one of the people who were watching the match.

Benard George Sibanda (27) pleaded not guilty to rape charge when he appeared before  Hwange Regional Court magistrate Dambudzo Malunga. The magistrate remanded him in custody to July 23 for continuation of trial.

The prosecutor Tawanda Sigauke told the court that on April 18, 2015 at 8pm the girl was at Chitete soccer grounds with her sister when Sibanda approached her and proposed love to her.

The girl's sister told him that she was still young to consider love from man.. Sibanda left and later came back to the girl after her sister had left to buy beer at the nearby homestead. he then got hold of her and dragged her into the nearby bush where he forced her to remove her pant and raped her once.

It is alleged that while on the act he heard voices of people approaching and fled leaving the girl. The girl was found by one Nhlanhla Nyoni who asked her what had happened.

The girl told him that she had been raped by Sibanda. Nyoni later told the girl's mother who then reported the matter at Dandanda police station leading to Sibanda's arrest.