A Zimbabwean court has handed down a 15-year prison sentence to a man found guilty of a horrific sexual assault against his own mother-in-law, an attack witnessed by the victim's elderly mother.
Court Details and Brutal Attack
Walter Maponga, a 37-year-old from Mandaza Village, was convicted of r@pe and assault by Harare regional magistrate Jessie Kufa. The prosecution, led by Blessed Songozo, presented a case so strong the magistrate described it as a clearly established prima facie case.
The incident occurred on September 17, 2025, in Makoni Village, Mhondoro. Maponga broke into the bedroom where his 56-year-old mother-in-law was with her 94-year-old mother. He began beating the complainant, demanding sex while blaming her for problems in his marriage, accusing her of taking his wife away.
Neighbor Intervention and Arrest
Maponga forced the woman to the ground and continued the assault. The attack was only halted when two neighbors, Godfrey Makoni and Cleopas Nziramasanga, rushed into the room. They managed to rescue the victim and apprehend Maponga at the scene, preventing further harm.
In delivering the verdict, Magistrate Kufa stated, "The State had managed to prove a prima facie case against Maponga," which paved the way for his conviction and the subsequent 15-year sentence.
Community Shock and Lasting Trauma
The brutal nature of the crime has sent shockwaves through the rural Mhondoro community. Residents have expressed profound concern over the severe violation of family trust and the added trauma inflicted by committing the assault in front of the victim's helpless elderly mother.
The swift actions of the neighbors have been widely credited with stopping a potentially worse outcome and ensuring the suspect was captured and handed over to authorities immediately.
