Courts issue sentences for sexual abuse and kidnapping in Zimbabwe and South Africa

In Zimbabwe, the Karoi Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 31-year-old man from Hurungwe to eight years in prison for the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) reported that the offenses occurred between January and April 2026. The man had allegedly convinced the child she was his “third wife” after she was brought to his location by his two wives.

In South Africa, the Thembisa Magistrates’ Court sentenced 46-year-old Bhutan Sizwe Mlotshwa to life imprisonment for rape. Mlotshwa was also handed additional sentences of 10 years for attempted murder, five years for kidnapping, and 12 months for violating the Immigration Act. The court found that between July 2021 and March 2022, Mlotshwa held his partner captive in a room, subjecting her to prolonged physical and sexual abuse while threatening her life to prevent her from seeking help.