Lieutenant Colonel acquitted of raping 19-year-old housemaid

Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant Colonel Rangarirai Kembo was yesterday acquitted by Harare regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa on charges of raping his 19-year-old housemaid. Mupeiwa said the maid’s  evidence was unreliable and suspicious.

In passing his judgement Mupeiwa said:

The complainant said it was her first sexual experience, but considering the time she was examined the nurse should have noticed fresh hymenal tears. What this shows is that the complainant was not telling the truth considering that she was examined in time. The injuries should have been noted. In her evidence, she said she was penetrated anally and she started being unstable during cross-examination. I don’t believe her evidence, she had time to examine herself and determine where the injuries were sustained. The evidence was not corroborated by the medical report. State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard that on July 29 this year, Kembo allegedly started fondling the complainant’s breasts and kissing her, before raping her.

More: Herald