A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Mvuma allegedly raped his employer’s eight-year-old daughter five times, a Gweru court heard yesterday.

Norman Garai (33) of plot 65 Nyagari Village, Mvuma, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire, who remanded him in custody to October 3 for trial.

Garai, who was employed as general hand for eight months, took advantage of the absence of the girl’s mother who had travelled to her rural home.

Prosecutor Mr Lloyd Mavhiza said between January 1 and August 31, 2016, Garai who was employed by the girl’s mother as a general hand and staying with the family, raped the minor five times while the mother was away. On each occasion Garai threatened to assault her if she reported the matter.

On April 6, 2017, way after Garai had long left the employment, the girl opened up to her mother after being raped by two other men while herding cattle. The two are still at large.

A report was made leading to Garai’s arrest.