A Gwanda man who broke into two premises in Mpoengs and raped two women twice his age before robbing them has been jailed for 30 years.
Gift Mthombeni, 21, of Guyu was convicted on his own plea of guilty to rape, unlawful entry, theft and assault by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Chrispen Mberewere.
He will serve an effective 25 years after five years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.
In passing the sentence, Mberewere said Mthombeni’s conduct was deplorable and showed an inherent wickedness in his character.
“In assessing the appropriate sentence, the court notes and regrets that you’re a young man who stands convicted of a very serious offence. There’s substantial premeditation evident from the manner you committed the series of offences when you identified places you clearly knew the victims would be sleeping alone and pounced on them,” said Mberewere.
“You chose the very middle of the night to attack and rape two adult women both twice your age. Your conduct is deplorable and clearly imprisonment awaits you. It’s the only form of punishment that you deserve as it’ll also send a message to other predators like you,” ruled the magistrate.
Prosecuting, Liane Nkomo said on October 5 this year shortly after midnight, the victim aged 42 was sleeping alone in her bedroom when Mthombeni broke the door to the house to gain entry.
The court heard that while inside, Mthombeni grabbed the woman and pinned her down while covering her mouth to muffle her screams. “Mthombeni ordered the victim to remove her clothes before he raped her after which he took R140 from her handbag and fled,” said Nkomo.
During the same night, Mthombeni proceeded to a tuck-shop in the same neighbourhood. He knocked on the door and asked the occupant to open on the pretext that he wanted to settle a R30 debt. The tuck-shop owner, a 40 year-old woman, refused to open the door and told Mthombeni to bring the money during the day.
“Mthombeni who was wielding a machete, destroyed the locking system and gained entry into the shop,” said Nkomo.
He threatened to strike the woman with the machete but she ducked and the two wrestled until Mthombeni overpowered her. The court heard that Mthombeni assaulted the victim and she sustained bruises on her face, knees and neck.
Mthombeni raped the victim and stole packets of cigarettes, two cellphones, 28 airtime recharge vouchers and R500 and fled.
A report was made to the police leading to Mthombeni’s arrest and recovery of some of the stolen money and property.
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