A man from Triangle in Chiredzi raped his stepdaughter (16) after he discovered that she kept po_rnographic material in her phone which the two then watched together.
Masimba Zhowanota (44) of Mpapa in Triangle appeared before Chiredzi Resident Magistrate Constance Mutandwa at Triangle Circuit Court last Tuesday.
The State led by Doubt Phiri said that sometime in January 2015 Zhowanota found po_rnographic videos in the minor’s phone and he took advantage of the situation to propose love to her as well as obtain her consent for se_xual intercourse.
From February 2015 onwards the two had se_xual intercourse on several occasions at his house.
The complainant’s mother later returned from the rural home and was told by neighbours that they suspected that the minor was pregnant. After interrogations from her mother, the minor confirmed that she was impregnated by Zhowanota.
A decision was reached to send her to her mother`s sister and on August 15, 2016 she made a Police report at Triangle Police Station that Zhowanota had se_xual intercourse with her.
Zhowanota was sentenced to 24 months in prison with six months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour leaving him with an 18 months effective jail term.