Man caged 20 years for raping mentally challenged girl

A man from Silobela was slapped with a 20 year jail term for soliciting and having sexual intercourse with a mentally challenged girl. Mpilo Dube, 25 of Thuthwane village under Chief Malisa in Silobela was arraigned before Gweru regional magistrate Phathekile Msipa facing three counts of rape.

The magistrate treated the three counts as one for purposes of sentencing. She argued that Dube had taken advantage of the girl due to her mental disability to sexually exploit her. Dube maintained that the two were in love but this defence was torn to shreds.

It was alleged that sometime in April 2017, Dube unlawfully and intentionally had sexual intercourse with the girl( who was 17 at the time) on three separate occasions in her bedroom.

The matter came to light during one of the bedroom visits when the complainant’s parents hearda sounds coming from her room. They went to check resulting in Dube fleeing. After quizzing their daughter they go to know of his visits and sexual assaults. They reported the matter to the police leading to Dube’s arrest.

The girl was taken to Kwekwe District hospital where medical and pyschiatric examinations were conducted and reports submitted to the courts as evidence.

Cases of rape are currently on the increase with young and disadvantaged girls falling victim