Harare – A Zimbabwean man, 53, has appeared in court after he allegedly raped three minors in Bulawayo, a report on Monday said.
According to the state-owned Chronicle newspaper, the court heard that Thamsanqa Masoka had raped his victims between February 2016 and March this year.
The court heard that Masoka had raped one of girls twice last year, and once in March this year.
He allegedly also raped two more young girls on March 14.
He was, however, not asked to plead to the four charges of rape, and the trial is set to continue on Tuesday, April 25.
Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza told the court that the accused had pounced on the teenage girl while she was on her way back from school and dragged her into his house, where he raped her once.
Masoka repeated the offence, resulting in the young girl staying away from school for at least eight days. When her teacher questioned her absenteeism, revealed her ordeal.
On March 14, the accused allegedly forced himself on a 9-year-old and an 8-year-old girl after luring them to his house.
Masoka was arrested after the 8-year-old girl reported the incident to her grandmother.
This come a week after an 18-year-old man appeared in court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old church mate who had turned down his "love proposal".
The unnamed boy allegedly declared his love for the complainant, but when his advances were rejected, he raped her, before fleeing the scene.
The accused was arrested after a rape charge had been opened by the complainant, who was accompanied by her grandmother.
He was expected to appear again in court on May 4.