Uncle (70) rapes mentally ill niece

court

A 70-YEAR-OLD Harare man is on the run after he allegedly sexually abused his 20-year-old mentally ill niece, resulting in her falling pregnant.

The abuse, suspected to have taken place over a long period, only came to light after a neighbour discovered that the woman was carrying a child.

The woman’s mother last week confirmed the case, which is now before the police. It is understood the senior citizen admitted committing the offence, but later bolted to an unknown destination after his niece’s father quizzed him.

The woman lived with her brother in Epworth where the uncle, who lives in the same area, frequently visited her to carry out the abuse. Her father lives in Waterfalls where he bought a new stand, while the mother is a cross-border trader who is always away.

“The first time I noticed that the girl was pregnant was when I saw her womb bulging out of her blouse,” said the neighbour, who refused to be named.
“As a neighbour who knew the girl’s condition, I took it upon myself to ask the girl what was happening.”

The neighbour said she then became suspicious.

“The first person who came in my mind was that old uncle of hers, her auntie’s husband, because he came several times to check on the girl,” she said.
The woman’s father engaged the old man to talk to her about the pregnancy, unbeknown to him that he was the one responsible.

The father was surprised when the old man, without first talking to the woman, told him that his daughter was using family planning pills. This raised eyebrows, leading to the father quizzing the old man.

“I asked him if he was responsible for the pregnancy and he admitted responsibility,” said the father.

“I just thought that we could solve the matter as relatives, but unfortunately he is running away from her.”

The father said the pregnancy was between six and seven months old. The woman revealed that her uncle had sexually abused her several times.