MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU – A 32-year-old man with speech and hearing impairment has been remanded in custody on allegations of raping his 12-year-old niece.
Bhekimpilo Ndlondlo of Ascot infill appeared before Gweru regional Magistrate Christopher Maturure and remanded in custody for judgment to June 10.
The state alleges that in 2022, Ndlondlo took advantage of the absence of the complainant’s mother and had sexual intercourse with the juvenile without her consent.
The court heard that around 7 pm, the complainant and Ndlondlo were sleeping in the same room, with the complainant on the bed and the accused on the floor.
It is alleged that Ndlondlo then woke up, lifted the complainant from the bed while she was asleep, laid her on the floor facing upwards, and tied a cloth over her mouth before sexually assaulting her.
The court heard that Ndlondlo removed the complainant’s clothes and used “something like a balloon on his penis” to rape her.
The assault was interrupted when the complainant’s mother arrived home and knocked on the door, causing Ndlondlo to pretend to be asleep while wrapping himself with a cloth before opening the door.
The court heard that Ndlondlo relocated after the incident, but came back to visit the complainant residents in April this year and the matter came to light leading to his arrest.
Ndlondlo, who was represented by lawyer Thomas Militao, denied the charges, claiming that on the day in question, he and the complainant slept in separate rooms.
