shloboe boe
Mashudu Mambo
IN a disturbing incident, a man from Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North province allegedly attempted to rape his 14-year-old niece in a bushy area behind a business centre.
The man, whose name is being withheld to protect the victim, pleaded not guilty before Bulawayo regional magistrate Eva Matura.
He was remanded in custody to 6 December 2024, for the continuation of trial.
In his defence, the accused denied the charge and indicated that he was unwell on the alleged day.
“On the day in question, I met up with my daughter who is the victim’s best friend, and they informed me that they were going to the shops.
“We went to Tshabangu Business Centre, and I left them at my wife’s shop and proceeded to meet up with my friends as I was not feeling well.
“At around 8pm, I went back to the shop, and on my way, I met Peace who informed me that my daughter was fighting with some boys at the shop.
“I confronted the victim and my daughter, inquiring why they were still at the shops. I ordered them to go home and threatened to beat them up,” he said.
He further indicated that the allegations are false because initially, the victim told the police that she was raped.
“The victim indicated that I raped her once without protection, but when the medical report was produced, the charge was altered from rape to attempted rape,” he said.
Allegations against the accused are that on 8 September 2024, at around 10pm, at Tshabangu Business Centre, he met the victim together with her friends.
He informed the victim that she would spend the night at his homestead, but she declined. Angered by her response, he dragged the victim towards a bushy area for a distance of about 100 metres.
He is alleged to have undressed the victim and attempted to rape her. The victim cried out, and the suspect stopped the act and fled the scene.
She ran to her friend and informed her about the incident.
The matter was reported to the police, and investigations were carried out, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
mbulelo smpofu
