FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO- A 35-year-old self-styled witch doctor from Bikita has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being convicted of rape by Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura.
Obvious Muvengwa of Mahwire village under Chief Mazungunye appeared before Magistrate Bepura and the state was led by prosecutor Nixon Chamisa.
The court heard that on 14 November 2025, an 18-year-old woman and her mother visited Muvengwa’s homestead seeking spiritual assistance.
According to the state, Muvengwa told the mother he would escort the complainant to the mountains for further rituals and instructed her to go home.
The state alleged that while in the mountains that night, Muvengwa forced himself on the complainant and had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her.
The matter was only reported to police in Beitbridge on March 5 2026, after which the complainant was medically examined.
In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Bepura imposed 20 years imprisonment.
