Zvikomborero Parafini
FAITH in God Ministries Church overseer, Dennis Mpondo, appeared in court for allegedly raping his 10-year-old niece after exposing her to pornography.
Mpondo (54) appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, who remanded him in custody to next month and advised him to approach the High Court for bail considerations.
Mpondo is the girl’s uncle.
It was the State’s case that on July 15, Mpondo was in his bedroom when his niece asked to use his cellphone to do her homework.
Instead of giving her the phone, the State said Mpondo played a pornographic video and gave her to watch.
After watching the video, she left his bedroom and went to do her homework.
The State said on July 20, the girl asked for money to buy food for her school lunchbox, and he gave her US$1. She bought biscuits for 50 cents and returned the change.
When she handed him back the change, Mpondo allegedly dragged the girl onto his bed and fondled her private parts.
He ordered her not to tell anyone about their secret.
On another occasion, he used his fingers to abuse the girl while they were watching TV in his bedroom.
Mpondo allegedly raped the girl on an unknown day between July and this month.
The offence came to light when the girl’s mother saw a video of her touching her private parts, and when she asked her about it, she revealed that she had been raped by her uncle.