MARTIN MAWAYA
A 48-year-old Gweru City Council senior employee, Never Mushayi, has been remanded in custody on allegations of raping and impregnating a mentally challenged woman.
Appearing before Gweru Regional Magistrate Christopher Maturure, Mushayi admitted to having sexual intercourse with the complainant (name withheld) but denied having knowledge of her mental illness.
He claimed the sexual encounters were consensual.
However, the complainant, aged 26 and five months pregnant, told the court that Mushayi forced her to have sexual intercourse three times with a condom he took from his wardrobe and several times without protection.
According to the state case led by Talent Tadenyika, on an unknown date in June 2024 around 10 am, Mushayi called the complainant to his room to take care of his 2-year-old daughter.
While in the room, Mushayi allegedly forcibly grabbed the complainant by her waist, laid her down on the bed, and had protected sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
The court also heard that on another occasion, Mushayi called the complainant again and forcibly pulled her into the room, laid her on the bed, lifted her dress, removed her pants, and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
During the act, the court heard that Mushayi covered the complainant’s mouth with his hand in order to avoid making noise.
In an effort to cover up the incidents, Mushayi allegedly threatened the complainant, warning her not to disclose the incidents to anyone, as he would endanger her life.
The matter came to light in October 2024 when the complainant started complaining of stomach pains to her mother, who took her to Gweru Provincial Hospital, where tests confirmed that she was pregnant.
This prompted her mother to probe further, leading the complainant to spill the beans that she had been raped by Mushayi.
Mushayi will be sentenced on Thursday, November 21.
