The ManicaPost
Melody Vherenaisi
Post Reporter
BUSINESS was brought to a halt at Mutare Magistrates’ Criminal Court on Wednesday after scores of people thronged the court to follow proceedings on the ongoing Joshua Chabodo and Freddy Mwatutsa rape case.
Chabodo (48) and Mwatutsa (46) appeared on routine remand and were further remanded in custody to June 20 where they will be informed of their trial date.
The duo recently made headlines for bedding a married woman believed to be mentally challenged and are now facing rape charges as defined in Section 65 (1) as read with Section 64 (3) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Chabodo and Mwatutsa allegedly abused the 22-year-old woman on different occasions and the case was first brought before Headman Chigodora where they publicly admitted to the crime.
At law, the woman is incapable of consenting to sex due to her mental status.
Mutare regional magistrate, Ms Pathekhile Msipa presided over the matter, while Mr Tom Nyatsuro appeared for the State.
Videos of the duo’s community court appearance recently went viral on different social media platforms.
The State said sometime in April on an unknown date, the woman and her husband were at their homestead in Chikara Village when Chabodo arrived and showed her some pornographic videos on his cellphone.
He later left.
It is alleged that Chabodo returned to the woman’s homestead later that evening and sneaked into her bedroom as she was sleeping with her husband who is believed to have been drunk.
Mr Nyatsuro said Chabodo asked the woman if they could do what he had shown her on his cellphone in the afternoon and she agreed.
“Chabodo had unprotected sex with the victim several times that night while her husband was sleeping next to them.
“The matter came to light the following morning when the husband’s sister saw Chabodo sneaking out of the couple’s bedroom.
‘‘She asked her sister-in-law what had transpired and the victim disclosed everything,” said Mr Nyatsuro.
Chabodo, who is the couple’s neighbour, is also alleged to have sexually abused the woman on numerous occasions in a nearby bush.
Moving on to Mwatutsa’s case, the State said sometime in April, the accused visited the woman who was alone at home and asked her to accompany him to his homestead to collect some cabbages.
The woman allegedly agreed.
It is said before reaching the homestead, Mwatutsa asked the woman to accompany him to a nearby bush and she agreed.
“While in the bush, Mwatutsa asked to sleep with the woman and she agreed. After the act, Mwatutsa took her to his homestead and gave her some carrots and cabbages and she returned to her homestead,” said Mr Nyatsuro.
Mwatutsa continued to sexually abuse the woman without any protection.
