An 84-year-old woman from Mufakose high-density suburb in Harare has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a 17-year-old autistic student. Erica Gurure was found guilty after a full trial presided over by Harare regional magistrate Letwin Rwodzi.
The Zimbabwean court heard that Gurure would pay the boy amounts ranging from US$10 (about R18) to US$50 (about R900) in exchange for his silence.
The case highlights the vulnerability of autistic individuals, who often struggle to communicate and interact with others. Autistic people may find it difficult to understand the thoughts and feelings of others and can be easily overwhelmed by sensory stimuli such as bright lights or loud noises.
The State, represented by Cecilia Mashingaidze, successfully proved that the abuse took place over a period of time last year. The court was told that Gurure first encountered the boy on his way home from school and invited him to her house.
The court further heard that Gurure would repeatedly call the boy and abuse him on numerous occasions, each time paying him varying sums of money, from US$10 (R18) to US$50 (R900). The assaults did not occur during school holidays, as the boy would spend those periods visiting his uncle.
On February 14th, the boy was on his way back from school when he was intercepted by Gurure, who once again took him to her house and abused him. After the assault, she gave him US$10 (R18), instructing him to go to the market.
At the market, the boy purchased two pairs of boxer shorts, a T-shirt, and a pair of socks. He then boarded a kombi to Ruwa but became lost in the area. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan came to his aid and took him to Ruwa Police Station, where he was eventually reunited with his uncle. The incident led to the discovery of the abuse and the subsequent arrest of Gurure.
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