In a bizarre incident, a Bindura man allegedly raped his daughter for ritual purposes.
The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts on Friday where the father was not asked to plead to the charge.

The 47-year-old  father who cannot be named was remanded in custody to November 15 by magistrate Maria Msika.

The state led by Carson Kundiona alleged that during the period extending from the year 2023 to October 23, the accused raped the complainant.

He told the 12-year-old daughter that he wanted to perform a ritual with her that would ensure that her biological mother returned to the matrimonial home.

He laid the complainant on the bed, pushed her skirt upwards, and pushed her panty aside. After so doing, he took a piece of green bar soap and soaked it in water before he spread it onto the complainant's vagina as a lubricant. He then inserted his erect manhood into the complainant's vagina without her consent. She tried to scream out but he grabbed her mouth and threatened to kill her if she continued screaming.

From that day, the accused person would rape the complainant several times taking advantage of the complainant's stepmother's absence. The stepmother works as a farmworker.

On 23 October, the stepmother returned home earlier than usual and discovered that all the doors were closed. 

She tip-toed towards the bedroom and peeped inside.  She saw the complainant holding the accused person's penis as the accused was ordering the complainant to suck his penis.

She opened the door and confronted the accused person. Neighbors overheard the confrontation and quickly alerted the police. The police swiftly responded and interviewed the complainant and her stepmother leading to the accused person's arrest.