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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A Harare regional magistrate yesterday slammed a policeman who ordered the mother of a rape victim to go and arrest the alleged rapist and bring him to the station arguing he was busy preparing for their annual inspection. Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya expressed his disappointment while sentencing a 45-year-old rapist who raped his cousin’s 11- year-old daughter on numerous occasions.

The man was sentenced to 18 years in jail but three years were set aside on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve 15 years.
Mr Mujaya said he was disturbed by the manner in which the police officer (name not disclosed) attached at Epworth Police Station discharged his duties.

He added that the officer did not take rape matters seriously.
“During trial, the mother of the victim narrated to the court what transpired when she went to report to the police that her daughter had been sexually abused. I must say that I am disappointed with some of the police officers at Epworth police station.

“The mother of the victim goes to report to the police and the officer he sees there orders her to go and ‘arrest’ the accused herself saying they were shortstaffed and busy preparing for their inspection.

The officer further tells her that if she manages to apprehend the accused she should alert any police detail she sees passing by.

“Surely, I don’t think this officer takes rape matters seriously. Did he even think or care to know what was going to happen when the mother confronts the accused?” he said.

The rapist was facing one count of rape but Mr Mujaya said if the investigating officer had done his job properly, the man would have been charged with more than 10 counts of rape.

“While giving her evidence-in-chief, the complainant told the court that the accused raped her on several occasions and would buy her silence with money ranging from R1 to US$1.

“If the police had done their investigations properly, they would have come up with more than 10 counts. Even though now there are victim friendly departments at police stations, still in this case the matter was not handled well,” he said.

Mr Mujaya also took time to remind men in Zimbabwe that women have rights which should be protected and respected.
“Zimbabwean men must be reminded that women or girls do have rights hence they must negotiate for sex not to rape them,” he said.

On June 14 around 8am, the complainant left her place of residence in Epworth and went to the man’s place so that they would go to town.
When she got there, the two drank tea and after some few minutes, the man grabbed the complainant and put her on the bed before raping her.
After the act, the accused ordered the complainant not to tell anyone saying that he would be arrested.

The matter came to light when the victim’s mother noticed the abuse while she was bathing together with the girl.