A 55-year-old man from Chindikumiri Village under Chief Garahwa’s area of Chisumbanje was sentenced to 15 years in jail for raping a mental patient.
Blessing Banxa was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison when he appeared before Chipinge regional magistrate, Noel Mupeiwa, on Tuesday.
However, 3 years were set aside on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Prosecuting, Themba Dhliwayo said on 6 November 2022, Banxa approached the complainant who was playing alone about 70 metres from their homestead. Said Dhliwayo:
Banxa grabbed the complainant’s hand and dragged her into a toilet which is about 10 meters away from where she was playing. He raped her once and was only released after biting Banxa on the chin.
After the act, Banxa vanished from the scene. The complainant went home crying.
She met Mr Calvin Mucheri and Mr Allen Khumbula along the way who asked her why she was crying.
She revealed to the two that Banxa had raped her in the toilet.
Mucheri and Khumbula confronted Banxa, but he denied raping the complainant.
A report was made to the police leading to Banxa’s arrest. | The Manica Post