By Naledi Nyoni
MUTARE — A 41-year-old Honde Valley man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a Mutare magistrate convicted him of attempting to rape a 23-year-old woman whom he allegedly abducted from her home before a fellow villager intervened.
The conviction follows an attack that prosecutors said occurred on June 29, 2026, at around 11pm, when the man allegedly forced his way into the complainant’s house before dragging her into a nearby forest.
According to a Tuesday statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the woman first became aware of the intruder after hearing noises outside her home.
“The victim heard noises outside and peeped through the window, where she saw the offender attempting to force it open from the outside,” read the statement.
Prosecutors said she tried to scare him away by throwing avocados through the window, but he refused to leave.
According to the NPAZ the man then “forcibly pushed open the door which had been locked from the inside”, entered the house and dragged the complainant to a nearby forest, where he removed her dress and tied it around her mouth.
The attempted rape was thwarted after the woman fought back.
“The offender attempted to rape the victim but she grabbed his genitals causing him to stop.”
Prosecutors said the complainant managed to untie the cloth covering her mouth and screamed for help.
A fellow villager responded to her cries, prompting the attacker to flee. However, he was apprehended at the scene before police were called.
“The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction,” read the NPAZ statement.
The Mutare Magistrates’ Court sentenced the offender to 10 years’ imprisonment for attempted rape.
In its statement, the NPAZ strongly condemned sexual violence, saying: “Such offences are a gross violation of human dignity, bodily integrity and the right to live free from abuse and fear.”
The authority urged members of the public to report sexual offences and reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of gender-based violence.
