HARARE – Mazowe North MP Tsungai Makumbe (Zanu PF) has been acquitted on charges of raping his 23-year-old ex-wife at gun point.
Harare magistrate Clever Tsikwa on Wednesday ruled that the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecutors were alleging that the rape resulted in pregnancy and the politician passed on a chronic illness.
The incident allegedly took place in in Mt Pleasant in November 2022.
Prosecutors had alleged that Makumbe went to the complainant’s residende around 10PM and called her to meet him at the gate.
The complainant was alleged to have complied.
She got into Makumbe’s vehicle.
“The accused person pulled out a greyish pistol and placed it on the dashboard. He got out of the car from the driver seat and proceeded to the passenger seat where the complainant was seated and opened the passenger door where the complainant was seated and started to demand sex from the complainant,” the National Prosecuting Authority had charged.
Makumbe, it was alleged, suddenly pulled his accuser’s left leg down and twisted it and that led the complainant to exit the vehicle and stand on the ground.
It was alleged he forced the complainant to bend before he raped her once without using protection.
The alleged rape was not immediately reported.
Makumbe was acused of having given the complainant US$20 to buy some morning-after pills to prevent pregnancy.
After the incident, the woman was treated at Parirenyatwa Hospital where she tested positive for a chronic disease.
She then reported the matter on September 2 this year.
Magistrate Tsikwa ruled that there was no evidence to support the claim. The court also found inconsistencies in the woman’s testimony.
“The complainant’s version has many inconsistencies and lies. She attempted to paint the accused wrongly,” Tsikwa said.
Lawyer John Ndomene represented the lawmaker.
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