Siqokoqela Mphoko, the son of Phelekezela Mphoko, a former vice president of Zimbabwe, received a 20-year prison term for three charges of rape.
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Elijah Singano sentenced Siqokoqela to a second two-month term for disobeying a court order after finding him responsible for violating the victim's fundamental rights.
Mphoko's lack of morals is evidenced by the fact that he was three times older than the victim.
He allegedly threatened to kill the woman if she told anyone about the situation. Additionally, it was learned that the victim looked up to Mphoko as a father figure; nonetheless, he broke her confidence, breaching the victim's and her family's rights.
In support of a lighter sentence, Mphoko's attorney cited his health issues and his responsibilities to his family.
His attorney said that the man had a young family as well as moveable possessions, including a house and automobiles. The prosecutor asserted that the victim would have long-term psychological effects.
Singano, however, asserted that the court must act in the child's best interests and that several fundamental rights of the victim—including those to privacy, good health, education, and dignity—were infringed. The defense's plea for the magistrate to combine the three charges into one sentence was granted.
The judge remarked:
According to the law, rape convictions have a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail, so giving the accused 30 years for each count would be severe given that the victim was the same and the offense occurred quickly.
For all three charges, the court is inclined to impose a term of 20 years in jail. Regrettably, the court is unable to further delay this sentence since doing so would be seen as trivializing this severe crime. As a result, the accused is given a sentence of two months for count four and a total of 20 years in prison, which will be served concurrently with the other charges.
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