By Terrence Mawawa| A Shurugwi Magistrate has strongly condemned paedophilia following an incident in which an elderly man raped a mentally challenged minor.

Jacob Mupetiwa(78) of Kadodo Village in Shurugwi allegedly raped the minor(15) after promising to marry her.

Mupetiwa appeared before Shurugwi Magistrate Sangster Tavengwa last week facing rape charges.

“Mupetiwa met the minor and proposed love to her.He also told the minor he wanted to marry her.

Mupetiwa later met the minor at Magumba Dam in the same area.

He then took the minor to his house where he had sex with her.

When the girl’ s uncle heard the matter, he went to the police and filed a report leading to Mupetiwa’ s arrest,” the court heard.

The trial of the matter will proceed next week.