Siqokoqela Mphoko, the son of former Zimbabwean Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for three charges of rape.
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Elijah Singano sentenced Siqokoqela to two months in prison for breaking a court order after finding him guilty of violating the victim’s fundamental rights.
Mphoko and the victim were three years apart in age, proving the former’s lack of morality.
He allegedly threatened the girl with death if she told anybody about the incident. It was also learned that the victim looked up to Mphoko as a father figure, but he broke her confidence, breaching the victim’s and her family’s rights.
Mphoko’s attorney asked for a lower sentence, citing his medical condition and family responsibilities. His lawyer stated that he owned immovable property, such as a house and automobiles, as well as a young family. The prosecutor stated that the woman would suffer psychological ramifications for the rest of her life.
Singano, on the other hand, stated that the court must act in the best interests of the kid, and that many of the victim’s constitutional rights, such as privacy, good health, education, and dignity, were infringed. The magistrate granted the defense’s request that all three offenses be treated as one for sentencing purposes.
The judge stated:
“Lawfully, each count of rape is equal to ten years in prison, and sentencing the accused to 30 years for each count would be excessive given that it is the same victim and in such a short period of time.” The court is inclined to inflict 20 years in jail on all three counts, and unfortunately, the court cannot suspend this sentence further since it will be taken for trivializing this terrible crime. As a result, the accused is sentenced to 20 years in prison for counts one through three, and two months for count four, which will be served concurrently with the prior counts.”
