Man (20) Jailed For Rape Committed Whe He Was 15, Argument Over A Text Book Exposes Him
An argument between a 13-year-old rape victim and her schoolmate over a textbook has inadvertently exposed a rape incident that had been kept secret by a family in Bulawayo. Thamsanqa Nsingo, now 20 years old, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping his 8-year-old cousin in 2015, when he was only 15.
Zimlive reports that, during the trial, the court heard that on April 21, 2018, the victim was playing with her male cousins in one of the bedrooms of a house in Nkulumane. She got into the blankets, and Nsingo followed her, undressing and raping her. One of the cousins who witnessed the incident reported it to Nsingo’s father. He was disciplined by his father with a belt, and the case was resolved within the family.
Man (20) Jailed For Rape Committed Whe He Was 15, Argument Over A Text Book Exposes Him [image: Zimlive]However, in December last year, the girl confided in a friend that she had been raped by her cousin when she was in Grade 2. The crime came to light when the victim and her friend got into an argument, and her friend revealed the rape incident to spite her. The class teacher referred the case to the school’s guidance and counselling teacher, who reported the matter to the police.
During the sentencing, Magistrate Mabeza said Nsingo had committed a serious crime. He took into account that Nsingo was a first-time offender who pleaded guilty to the crime and that he committed the crime when he was still immature and prone to peer pressure. However, the court handed him a six-year sentence for his actions.
This case highlights the importance of reporting sexual assault cases to the authorities, as it can help prevent further abuse and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.