Teenager raped on first date

A MAN from Nketa suburb in Bulawayo allegedly raped his friend's teenage sister on a day he had taken her on their first date. A court heard that Zenzo Nondo (25) sought permission from his friend to take her young sister to town.

It is alleged that the 17-year-old was reluctant to go but her sister pressured her to go saying she wanted her to bring her "umnyi" (birdplum) an indigenous fruit.

Nondo was not asked to plead to a charge of rape when he appeared before Western Commonage Magistrate Ms Nyaradzo Ringisayi.

He was remanded in custody to August 26.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said Nondo first went to town with the girl and at around 2PM, he took her to his house in Nketa 8 suburb.

"Accused told complainant he wanted to show her where he lives so that she would visit him some time. When they got to his house, accused proposed love to complainant but she refused. He started fondling complainant's breasts. He lifted her from a couch where they were sitting and lay her on his bed. He wore a condom and raped her once," said Mr Mageza.

He said the complainant reported the matter to one of her sisters five days later leading to Nondo's arrest.

In a statement, the teenager said Nondo first proposed love to her when they were having lunch in town.

"He took me to a restaurant where he bought rice for me and sadza for himself. He told me that he loved me but I turned down his offer. We then went to a china shop where he bought me pumps, secret socks and panties," reads her statement.

She said when they got to Nondo's house, he raped her.

"I tried to push him away when he started fondling my breasts but he lifted me from the couch and laid me on his bed. I did not scream when he raped me although I was trying to push him away from me. He then took me home to Tshabalala and left me by my gate. I told my older sister about the ordeal five days later."