Hurungwe herd boy caged for 15 years over rape charges
The herd boy was succumbed by the call of the amorous realm and headed to force himself on a mentally disturbed woman
Karoi- A 34-year-old herd boy from Nyamakate, Makuti in Hurungwe has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape.
The verdict was delivered by the Karoi Magistrates Court following the heinous assault of his employer’s mentally challenged daughter.
The victim, a 22-year-old woman from the same village was known to suffer from mental disabilities, rendering her incapable of giving consent.
The herdboy preyed on the young woman’s vulnerability.
According to court proceedings, on one occasion during the night the accused entered the victim’s bedroom while she was sleeping alone.
He forcefully took her to his room where he sexually assaulted her before returning her to her place.
Later that same month, he repeated the crime — again abducting the woman to his quarters where he sexually assaulted her and kept her there overnight.
The crime was eventually uncovered when the accused’s employer discovered the victim naked in the herd boy’s bedroom the following morning.
The employer alerted the victim’s mother and she filed a police report.
During the trial, both medical and psychiatric reports confirmed the victim’s mental incapacity same was presented as crucial evidence strengthening the prosecution’s case. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe emphasized that justice had been served for the vulnerable victim.
The authority reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of women and girls, especially those with disabilities.
