Zimpapers Logo

aged 16 and 19 have since given birth.
Solomon Muringayi (26) appeared before regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa facing two counts of rape.

He was remanded in custody to August 23 for trial.
Muringayi was advised to apply for bail at the High Court. It is the State’s case that Muringayi and his 16-year-old sister started staying at their uncle’s house in Harare in 2008. The uncle is also the father to the cousin who is the second complainant in the matter.

It is alleged that on a date not known to the prosecutor but in November last year during the midnight Muringayi entered into the room his sister was sleeping. This allegedly shocked the sister who screamed. Muringayi reportedly gagged his sister’s mouth and raped her once.
After the rape Muringayi threatened his sister saying that he would hang himself if she revealed the matter. It is further alleged that Muringayi repeatedly raped his sister and she fell pregnant. In December last year while the uncle was away on a business trip in Gweru, Muringayi entered his uncle’s 19-year-old daughter’s bedroom and raped her. Using the same modus operandi Muringayi threatened to commit suicide if she disclosed the ordeal.

Muringayi allegedly continued to rape the two until they both fell pregnant. In a bid to protect her brother and evade the scrutinising eyes of the public, the sister left the uncle’s place to stay in Warren Park, it is alleged.

She later gave birth to a baby boy.
The cousin afraid that Muringayi would commit suicide if she revealed the rape allegedly lied to her father that a man based in South Africa was responsible for the pregnancy. The offence only came to light when the father discovered text messages in the girl’s mobile phone. The girl then revealed to his father that Muringayi had raped her and was responsible for the pregnancy, it is alleged. Muringayi was located and also confessed he was responsible for the pregnancy.

This prompted the uncle to verify the paternity of of the child.
The sister confirmed that indeed it was her brother’s child but the child was a result of rape leading to the arrest of Muringayi.