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Woman conceals daughter’s sexual abuse by lover

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A 41-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi woman appeared before resident magistrate Constance Mutandwa facing charges of defeating the course of justice after she treated lacerations on her 10-year-old daughter’s private parts with methylated spirit to conceal sexual abuse by her lover.

BY Garikai Mafirakureva

A 41-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi woman appeared before resident magistrate Constance Mutandwa facing charges of defeating the course of justice after she treated lacerations on her 10-year-old daughter’s private parts with methylated spirit to conceal sexual abuse by her lover.

She is also facing charges of contravening section 7[3] of the Children’s Act, after she allegedly neglected and exposed her daughter to ill-treatment by leaving her in the custody of her lover, knowing very well that he was sexually abusing her.

According to the State, Constable Angela Mahachi received a tip-off that the woman’s lover was continuously raping his step-daughter.

The police officer went to the accused’s residence, where she interviewed the complainant about the rape allegations.

The juvenile opened up and revealed that she had reported the matter to her mother, but she just treated her and ignored the matter and even told her not to tell open up.

On February 12, the police officer went to the accused person’s house in New Stands Makondo, Chiredzi, to investigate the matter and the accused concealed information to the effect that her child had informed her that she had been raped by her lover.

The State also said between mid-January and February 9, the suspected rapist, who is a vendor, took advantage of the absence of his lover who had gone to do some piece jobs, and had left the complaint alone at home.

He raped the juvenile, threatening to assault her with a switch if she screamed. He ordered the complainant not to disclose the ordeal to anyone.

In the evening, the complainant advised her mother about the abuse, but she told not to tell anyone.

The mother treated her injured private parts with methylated spirit.

The court heard that the man had raped the minor on several occasions using the same modus operandi.

Both the man and the woman were both remanded to February 22 for continuation of trial at the regional court.