A man from Zhombe spent three months in jail after his 16-year-old daughter lied that he had raped her.
The father was set free on Wednesday when the matter was discharged at the close of the State case.
During cross-examination, the man’s daughter told the court that she had lied about the alleged abuse at the instigation of her mother who wanted to fix him.
The accused (whose name cannot be revealed to protect the identity of the girl), appeared before Gokwe regional magistrate Lungile Ncube facing one count of rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor Melissa Makombe told the court that the complainant is from Mnidwa Village, Chief Malisa in Zhombe and she is a form two pupil at a local school.
On 26 July, at around 11 AM at their homestead, the daughter was at home with her father since her mother had gone to the garden.
The accused person allegedly called the complainant to his bedroom and upon entering the room the accused person pushed the complainant to the floor and she fell facing upward.
It was further alleged that the accused person pressed the complainant to the floor and raped her once.
The girl’s mother suddenly returned home, went to her bedroom, and caught the accused person red-handed raping his daughter, it was alleged.
The complainant’s mother reported the matter to the police before the complainant was escorted to the hospital for a medical examination. | The Herald