A 46-year-old man from Glen View, Zimbabwe, has been arrested for allegedly r*ping his 18-year-old daughter-in-law repeatedly over a five-day period, a case that has shocked the local community.
The accused, a father of three boys and one girl, is said to have exploited his position of trust to assault the young woman while threatening her with harm. He was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 1.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrest, stating, “A Glen View 3 man has been arrested for r*pe. The accused is the father-in-law of the complainant.”
Reports indicate that the suspect would leave his wife in their bedroom at night and sneak into his daughter-in-law’s blankets to carry out the assaults. The abuse allegedly began on March 18, when the young woman, who had been sharing a sleeping space with her husband in the dining room, fell victim to the attack.
Initially unaware that the perpetrator was not her husband, the victim was violently slapped twice and subsequently handcuffed and silenced with tape. Over the next five days, the man allegedly continued his assaults using the same method.
To ensure her silence, the accused reportedly threatened to kill the victim’s five-month-old child if she spoke out about the abuse, leaving her in fear for her life and her child’s safety.
On the fifth day, the victim managed to escape the house and confided in her mother, who promptly reported the incident to the police. This led to a swift investigation and the arrest of the suspect.
The victim has since been taken to the Family Support Clinic for a medical examination while investigations continue.
