Socialite Ashley “Mai Jeremaya” Masendeke has taken a leading role in a newly released film, PaLodge, produced by Naiza Boom Films, which appears to mirror aspects of her recent and highly publicised rape case which ended with the acquittal of the two accused.
The film, which premiered on YouTube and attracted over 75,000 views within its first 24 hours, has sparked widespread discussion due to a scene that closely resembles the events surrounding Mai Jeremaya’s alleged sexual assault.
In the scene, her character is shown in a traumatised state following an implied violation by three men.
The depiction shows the men exchanging comments about their actions, before Mai Jeremaya’s character asks for money to return home.
The scene continues with the men silencing her and making insensitive remarks about engaging in unprotected sex, claiming they are not infected with any diseases.
The release of PaLodge comes shortly after two Harare men, Thabo Blessing Dube and Martin Charlie, were acquitted of raping the socialite.
The rape case collapsed after Harare Magistrate Ruth Rwodzi ruled that the State had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, citing inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony and credible evidence presented by the defence.
Central to the ruling were three conflicting statements Mai Jeremaya reportedly gave to the police, which the court found severely undermined the credibility of her allegations.
The inconsistencies were compounded by testimony from the complainant’s close friend, Cynthia Duringo, who under cross-examination admitted to altering her story.
The accused men maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual and involved a US$20 payment—an assertion the court found credible.
Evidence showed that Mai Jeremaya had used the money, which the magistrate viewed as an indication that she had accepted the terms of the arrangement.
Further weakening the State’s case, Magistrate Rwodzi noted that the complainant had been an “active participant” in the sexual act, including guiding penetration. The court ruled that such behaviour did not align with someone experiencing non-consensual sex.
The magistrate also suggested that the allegations may have been fabricated, possibly due to pressure at home, attempts to extort the accused, or a bid for public sympathy.
Additional testimony from the lodge manager and video surveillance footage contradicted key elements of the complainant’s version of events, particularly regarding the lodge’s layout and access to rooms.
In conclusion, Rwodzi highlighted that while the State’s case was riddled with contradictions, the defence presented a consistent and plausible narrative throughout the trial, leading to the acquittal of the two accused men.
More: Nehanda Radio
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