62-year-old Pumula Man Jailed for Raping Niece as Wife Attempts to Conceal Crime with Marriage Proposal

By Effort Moyo

A 62-year-old from Old Pumula has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping his 18-year-old niece and attempting to conceal the crime by persuading her to become his second wife.

The incident took place on the 30th of August 2024, when the victim visited the accused’s home to care for his children in the absence of his wife. Late that night, the man lured her into his bedroom under the pretense of giving her money, where he forcibly raped her. During the assault, he threatened to stab her if she screamed while claiming she was now a woman, vowing to pay lobola for her.

The court heard that on the 13th of September, the accused’s wife attempted to coerce the victim into accepting the man as her husband. The young woman refused and reported the crime to the police, leading to his arrest and conviction by the Bulawayo Magistrate Court