A 25-year-old Figtree man who tracked and raped his mother’s 67 year-old drunken friend while she was coming from a beer drink, was on Friday sentenced to 14 years in jail.

Smile Zikhali of Ezihwabeni village was convicted on his own plea of guilty to rape by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere. He will serve an effective 10 years in jail after four years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.

In passing the sentence, Mr Mberewere, took into account the fact that Zikhali was a youthful first offender who did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty.

“Rape is a serious offence which is prevalent these days. You humiliated a 67 year-old woman by undressing and raping her and it is clearly unacceptable.

Drinking beer should not be used as an excuse to commit crime,” said the magistrate. He said Zikhali’s conduct was deplorable and unacceptable On being asked why he committed the offence, Zikhali, a single father of two, said he was drunk and did not know what transpired..