By James Muonwa, Mashonaland West Correspondent

A 54-year-old man from Kenzamba in Makonde district took advantage of his lover’s absence and repeatedly raped her niece aged 14 because he was the breadwinner.

Moses Chibika of Chivhima village was last week convicted of rape when he appeared before regional magistrate Ignatius Mugova at the Chinhoyi Court Complex.

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a full trial and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

However, Chibika will serve an effective 12 years in jail after the magistrate conditionally suspended three years.

Chibika is the boyfriend of his victim’s aunt.

The state-led prosecutor Nyasha Sibesha told the court that between January to February 2021, and at Chivhima village, Kenzamba under Chief Magonde, the accused would on several occasions take advantage of his lover’s absence and enter the girl’s bedroom in which she slept with two other children.

He would rape her on different days.

The complainant later advised her aunt of the sexual assaults, but she was told to keep quiet as the accused person was the family’s breadwinner and provider.

The victim later opened up to another female relative who in turn informed the girl’s father and the matter was reported to the police.

The victim was medically examined at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital to confirm the rape.