Granny, 74, survives rape by twisting attacker's privates

A 74-year-old Hwange woman survived a rape ordeal by grabbing and squeezing her 21-year-old attacker's privates, a Hwange court heard recently.

The assailant was named as Mbonisi Ncube, a resident of Jambezi under Chief Shana area in Matabeleland North.

The attack on the elderly woman was not the only one involving a rape attempt, according to a statement posted on the National Prosecuting Authority's X handle.

Ncube was dragged before a Hwange magistrates facing unlawful entry charges and another count of rape.

On 7 June at 9PM, NPA said, Ncube broke into an 80-year-old woman's home where she slept with her grandchildren, the court was told during trial.

"He strangled the complainant's 10-year-old grandchild before she screamed," NPA said.

"This alerted the complainant who went to investigate. The accused person ran away.

"The complainant identified him when he returned at about 11.30PM and peeped through the window. She promptly advised her neighbours."

But that was not Ncube's only crime of the night as prosecutors proved that at around 11PM, Ncube broke into another house through the window.

"The complainant heard movements and went to investigate," NPA said.

"The accused person dragged the complainant into her bedroom and forced her onto her bed.

"He pulled up her dress and tore her pantie before trying to rape the complainant.

"The complainant managed to grab his manhood and squeezed it until he released her.

"The accused person escaped through the window and ran away. The complainant advised her neighbours who helped her track the spoor which led to the accused person's homestead.

"A police report was made leading to the arrest of the accused person."

For his misdeeds, Ncube was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on the first count while he earned a 1 year imprisonment for the second. He will serve 6 years effectively.