GWERU – A Gokwe prophet from the Johane Masowe apostolic church has been dragged before the courts facing charges of rape.
It is the state’s case, led by Stancelous Kanyemba, that on November 16, 2012, Rennias Mapurisa, 64, told a 16-year-old girl that she needed an exorcism from evil spirits. He then raped her. The matter came to light when the traumatised girl told her parents who then sought assistance from police. The case goes for trial next week as the accused has denied the charge.
In a related matter, Kwekwe Magistrate, Taurai Manwere, sentenced 22-year-old Munyaradzi Shoniwa to 12 months in prison for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl he had customarily married.
The court heard that on November 21 last year, Shonhiwa had sex with the minor he had married in August. However, he went on to assault the girl days later following a misunderstanding. The police were called. Under the country’s laws, it is illegal for an adult to have sexual intercourse with a girl younger than 15. – Brenna Matendere
21 years for attempted murder
GWERU – Regional magistrate Mark Dzira has slapped three Mberengwa men with a combined 21-year prison term for fatally stabbing a colleague and leaving him for dead.
Prosecutor Freddy Kadodo said on January 15 last year, the three, Joel Shumba (37), Conneck Shava (24) and Taishuva Zingwiri (37), were drinking opaque beer at a homestead in Mataruse village.
The complainant, Stephen Gumbo, entered the hut with the intention of joining them for a drink. After a short time, Shumba asked Gumbo for a cigarette but he failed to produce it. An argument ensued and the three followed Gumbo on his way home and assaulted him.
The incident was stopped by Shupai Mazambani (53).
In passing sentence, magistrate Dzira said the three’s behaviour was inhumane. He added that a lengthy sentence would be appropriate so that the community could recover from the trauma of the incident. – Brenna Matendere
Jailbreak at Hwahwa
GWERU – An 18-year-old teenager from Zvishavane recently masterminded a jailbreak at Hwahwa Medium Remand prison.
The prison, one of the eight that falls under the Midlands-Masvingo region on the Zimbabwe Prison Services map, has often been credited for its security details. The fugitive, Bernad Ndlovu of Fizhu Farm in Zvishavane, has since been re-arrested and brought before the local courts.
In the state case put forward by Prosecutor Justos Mkwena, Ndlovu, whose finer details on the previous conviction were not outlined, was working on the prison farm on 14 December last year while three prison officers, Kennias Gumbo, Richard Madzima and Nkosana Mahlangu, were on guard.
It is understood that prior to the incident, Ndlovu had hatched the plan to escape from the prison with other prisoners. Ndlovu overpowered the three prison security details and escaped into the bush.
The other prisoners, however, failed to also escape and were rounded up by prison security reinforcements. Luck ran out of Ndlovu days later when he was apprehended by local community members who handed him over to the prison officials.
Magistrate Florence Nago who presided over the case said escaping from lawful custody could not be taken lightly. She sentenced him to 12 months in prison while the other period of imprisonment, which had been set aside on condition of good behaviour, was added to the sentence. – Brenna Matendere
Corrupt officers face chop
MASVINGO- At least 11 police officers based in Masvingo who were arrested over the festive season for demanding kick backs from motorists at road blocks now face the chop after they appeared before a police disciplinary hearing.
The 11, among them several inspectors, were arrested in a police blitz which saw senior officers in the province waylaying their juniors at road blocks in order to stamp out corruption within the force.
Masvingo police spokesman, Inspector Peter Zhanero, only confirmed that the case involving the officers was still pending and refused to give more details.
However, sources within the police told The Zimbabwean that the officers were hauled before the police disciplinary hearing and then taken to court. “They have not yet appeared in court since the police disciplinary hearing has not yet released its findings,” said a police source. “But from the information we have so far it would appear that the concerned officers now face the chop.”
The officers were arrested during the festive season after they were dispatched to mount roadblocks along the major highways in Masvingo.
Four of the officers were arrested while manning a roadblock along the Masvingo-Beitbridge high way while seven were arrested along the Masvingo-Mashava highway.
Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri and President Robert Mugabe have spoken out against corruption in the police force. – Regerai Tukutuku
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