The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura : Rusape Correspondent
A PROPHET with Johanne Masowe eChishanu who allegedly raped an under-aged married church-mate under the guise of cleansing her womb was arrested and is being charged with two counts of rape.
Ostern Madzvimbo (41) of Chipenzi Village in Nyazura who is represented by Mr Munyaradzi Manyengavana of Chiwanza and Partners was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi this week.
Mrs Hanzi granted Madzvimbo $100 bail after the State consented and adjourned the matter to September 30, 2016.
State prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, told the court that Madzvimbo waylaid the woman (16) first raped the woman while attending a funeral in their village.
“Madzvimbo and the complainant are not related, but they are church-mates at Johanne Masowe eChishanu where the accused person is a prophet. On June 8 and at Matsika Village, the complainant together with other church members including the accused person went to attend a funeral in the area.
“While at the funeral and at around 7pm, Madzvimbo sent a Mrs Tigere to call the complainant. The complainant went where Madzvimbo was and ordered her to go to a bush which was about 800 metres away from the funeral. He told her that he wanted to clean the complainant’s womb.
“The complainant went to the bush alone thinking that there were some church members gathered there. Upon arrival, the woman was surprised to discover that she was alone. Within a few minutes, Madzvimbo followed the woman to the bush.
“He went on to rape her. She cried for help, but Madzvimbo gagged her mouth. After the rape, Madzvimbo threatened the woman not to tell anyone. He ordered her to go back to the funeral and she did not tell anyone about the rape.
“On the second occasion on a day unknown to the prosecutor, but in June 2016 at around 3pm, Madzvimbo went to the woman’s house. He saw her and her husband at home. Madzvimbo asked the woman to charge his cellphone and she took the phone to charge it.
“Madzvimbo told the woman that he was going to Rukweza Business Centre and would return to collect his phone. The accused left the complainant with her husband at their homestead.
“The complainant’s husband later went to a grinding mill in the area leaving the complainant home alone. After about 30 minutes, Madzvimbo stormed into the room where the woman was and raped her.
“The woman’s husband came back from the grinding mill and the complainant told him about the rape. They proceeded to make a police report,” said Mr Chawatama.
