Mberengwa man jailed 17 years for robbery and rape

A 22‑year‑old Mberengwa man, Macdonald Ncube, has been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison by the Zvishavane Regional Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of rape and robbery.


The court heard that on 1 January 2026, at around 2200 hours, Ncube targeted the home of a 25‑year‑old woman while her husband was away at work. The victim was sleeping with her three‑month‑old baby when he forcibly entered the bedroom.

Armed with an okapi knife and a hunting torch, Ncube attacked the woman while she was still in bed, stabbing her once in the chest and once in the left thigh. Under threats to kill her, he raped her.

After the assault, he further intimidated the victim with the knife, demanded money and robbed her of US$50 before fleeing.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) described the incident as a calculated and predatory attack on a vulnerable woman inside her own home. The use of a lethal weapon to inflict injury and instil life‑threatening fear was cited as a major aggravating factor.

NPAZ said it remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender‑based violence and violent crime face the full force of the law.