Africa-Press – Tanzania. Anord Banengo (20), a resident of Muleba district’s Bulungula village, was on Tuesday convicted of raping a five-year-old girl (name withheld) and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prosecuting Police Inspector, Jumanne Makalabo told the court during hearing of the criminal case that the convict committed the offence on December 27, last year.
According to the evidence tendered in court including a PF3 medical report, the convict (Banengo), waylaid the child as she was playing with other children where he took her in a nearby bush and raped her causing her to suffer grievous injuries.
Before passing the sentence, Muleba District Magistrate Asha Mwetindwa noted that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the convict deserved a stiff punishment taking into consideration the tender age of the child.
Meanwhile, Rashid Mboneki (32), a resident of Nyamilanda village, in Muleba district was convicted of raping a Standard Five pupil (name withheld) and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
Inspector Makalabo told the court during hearing of the case that the convict committed the offence on September 20, last year.
He told the court that Mboneki raped the girl who was aged 15-years old, a Standard Five pupil at Burigi primary school and impregnated her before marrying her.
He prayed for a stiff sentence contending that the offence denied the victim the right to attend school.
Magistrate Asha Mwetindwa explained that the girl was still underage adding that the Law of the Child Act, 2009 (Cap. 21) stipulates that a Child shall have the right to life, dignity, respect, leisure, liberty, health, education and shelter from his parents or guardians.
Every parent shall have duties and responsibilities whether imposed by law or otherwise towards his/her child which include the duty to protect the child from neglect, discrimination, violence, abuse, exposure to physical and moral hazards and oppression.
Child abuse means contravention of the rights of the child which causes physical, moral or emotional harm including beatings, insults, discrimination, neglect, sexual abuse and exploitative labour, she remarked.
In a related development, Kusekwa Madaha (27), a resident of Kyerwa District’s Murongo village is helping police investigations for allegedly impregnating a Standard Four Pupil (name withheld).
Kagera Regional Police Commander (RPC), Revocatus Malimi explained that the suspect would be arraigned before the court when investigations are completed.
