Faith Ndou
MASVINGO-Farai of Muswaswa Village in Bikita appeared before Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura for allegedly raping his 14 year old niece on the day he started staying with her.
Innocent Mudzingwa told the court that on June 23 2025, the complainant’s paternal grandmother whom she was staying with was buried and the following day she went on to live with her father’s brother.
On June 24 at around 1900 hours the accused allegedly called the complainant into a room, which she entered.
Whilst inside, the accused allegedly forced her to sit on the bed and drink traditional beer. A snake was introduced as the complainant’s husband and she was told she would not get married and that, if she did her husband would die.
It is said that the snake allegedly started licking her all over the body and she remained inside the room the whole night until the next day.
In the morning, the complainant was given uncooked rice and ordered to eat it and put the remainder in her pocket before going to school. It is alleged that the accused put sand from a clay pot inside her underwear and forced her to drink traditional beer before she went to school. The accused also told the complainant to greet her husband, the snake, after school but she could not see it.
On June 26 2025, the accused went for a visit with his family at a school in Gutu, leaving the complainant alone.
Around 2000hours, the accused allegedly entered the complainant’s room and started fondling her breasts.
The complainant screamed but was threatened with death.
It is further alleged that the accused tore her underwear, raped her and threatened her not to tell anyone.
In July 2025, on a date not known around 2200 hours the accused allegedly had sexual intercourse with the complainant three times without her consent, leaving the room around 0400 hours.
Later in July, the complainant ran away from the accused’s homestead in Muswaswa village and he reportedly followed her.
The incident came to light in October after the complainant decided to leave the accused person’s homestead while searching for her maternal blood relatives.
Upon finding her grandmother, she explained everything and a report was filed with the police at Mukore Police in Bikita.
According to the accused’s lawyer, he denied the snake allegations stating that several witchcraft meetings were held in connection with him during which he was beaten by family members and his daughter was also linked to witchcraft issues.
The lawyer further cited that the complainant was being used as a tool to fake rape allegations by family members of the accused.
According to the complainant’s maternal grandmother after filing a report with the police, doctors confirmed that she had been sexually abused and had contracted sexually transmitted infections.
The grandmother explained that the delay in reporting was due to threats of death.
The lawyer added that the complainant should be tested to determine whether the STI was transmitted by the accused. He also said that the family had serious bad blood due to witchcraft allegations and the complainant was placed at the centre of the rape allegations with support from the family.
The trial continues on March 24. The accused is currently out of custody on bail.
