HARARE, Apr.21 (NewsDay Live) - A 35-year-old Gokwe man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a five-year-old girl from his neighbourhood.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of attempted rape after the court heard how he targeted a young girl aged between 4 and 5 years.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), on 5 April this year, the perpetrator stormed into the victim's homestead, taking advantage of her parents' absence. He dragged her into a nearby crop field intending to rape her, but was interrupted by a fellow villager who rushed to the scene and rescued the victim.

The girl's mother immediately filed a police report, leading to his arrest.