An 18-year-old man, Markwell Machena, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the horrific abuse of three young children, aged two, six, and seven, in Machena village.
The Gokwe Regional Magistrate, Stanford Mambanje, initially sentenced him to 90 years, but the term was later reduced.
The court learned that Machena, who was trusted as a family helper, committed these crimes while the children’s mother was away from March 28 to 30.
He is accused of luring the children into his bedroom with sweets, tying them up, and assaulting them one by one.
The ordeal ended when their mother returned and found her children in distress. After speaking with them, she discovered what had happened, leading to Machena’s arrest.
Prosecutor Fatuma Tekera reported that the children are now receiving medical and psychological support to help them cope with the trauma. The community is in shock over this tragic event.
