Man gets 20 years for anal rape

A man from Tsholotsho District who forcibly had anal sex with a six-year-old girl from his neighbourhood was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in jail.
The man, aged 35, had pleaded not guilty to rape, but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira.
The magistrate had to give him a mandatory minimum imprisonment term after he confessed during mitigation that he was HIV positive.
He had pleaded with the court to exercise lenience on him, arguing that prison conditions were not conducive to his health status.
The prosecutor, Mr Goodluck Katenaire, proved that on 21 April last year, the man unlawfully entered the sleeping hut where the complainant was asleep with her younger brother.

He took off her panties and had anal sex with her and the younger brother asked him what he was doing and he quickly got up, dressed and went away.
The younger brother reported the incident to their mother and a report was eventually made to the police leading to the man’s arrest.
According to medical reports produced in court, the girl is HIV negative.