Mutare Bureau — CHIEF Chitsunge of Buhera, Magaya Gunguwo (83), has appeared before a Rusape regional magistrate facing several counts of rape. Gunguwo was brought before Mr Livingstone Chipadza on allegations of forcing himself on a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Area public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira said the crimes were committed between February and August this year after the chief had asked the girl to look after his grandchildren while he attended a chiefs' conference in Bulawayo.

The girl, who is doing Grade Six, is related to the chief.

According to the State outline, the chief approached the girl's mother in February and asked her to allow her daughter to look after his grandchildren while he attended a chief's conference in Bulawayo.

The mother agreed.

When he got back from the conference, the chief allegedly raped the girl several times in his bedroom.

The matter only surfaced after the girl started complaining of stomach pains.

Her mother took her to hospital where doctors discovered she had been sexually abused.

The chief is denying the charges and the case will go on trial on January 18 next year.