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Midlands Correspondent
A 36-year-old soldier from Redcliff was slapped with an effective 17-year jail sentence for raping his landlord’s four-year-old girl. Vengesai Matema of Simbi Park in Redcliff, who is employed by the Zimbabwe National Army, had pleaded not guilty to rape charges when he appeared before Gokwe-Kwekwe regional magistrate, Mr Amos Mbobo. He was, however, convicted after a full trial and sentenced to 20 years, three of which were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar crime for the next five years.

Matema raped his landlord’s four-year-old daughter once while her parents were away. The court heard that sometime in February 2013 on a date unknown to the prosecutor, the girl was coming from crèche when she found Matema alone at home and started playing with her friends around the yard.

Matema called the girl and took her to his living room where he instructed her to lie on her back and forcibly undressed her. Matema raped the girl once and threatened her with unspecified action if she reported the matter to anyone.

However, the matter came to light when the girl’s mother noticed that her child was having difficulties in walking and took her to Rusununguko Clinic where she was examined by medical staff.

The girl’s mother was informed that the child had been sexually abused and she reported the matter to the police.

The girl disclosed to her mother how she had been sexually abused by Matema.