26-year-old Bulawayo man sentenced to 20 years for raping teenage job seeker
Bulawayo — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl who had been seeking employment. The ruling was handed down by the Western Commonage Magistrates’ Court in Bulawayo on Friday.
The incident dates back to March 2024 when the teenage victim, in search of a job, posted a message in a WhatsApp group. On May 1, 2024, she received a response from the accused, who falsely claimed that his grandmother in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, needed a house helper.
Believing the offer to be genuine, the victim traveled from Plumtree to Bulawayo on May 5, 2024. Upon arrival, she met the accused, who was accompanied by two friends. Instead of taking her directly to Cowdray Park, the accused led her to a beer garden and later to his residence in Mpopoma, promising to take her to his grandmother’s house the next day.
That night, after the victim went to sleep, the accused entered her room, forced himself into her bed, and raped her twice. The following morning, he raped her again, the court heard. The victim reported the assaults to the police, leading to the arrest and subsequent trial of the accused.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe on Friday confirmed the conviction, highlighting a case that serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by young job seekers.
Kukurigo
