Cop, 47, Acquitted Of Raping Teenager, Court Finds Relationship Consensual

A 47-year-old police officer stationed at Chikuku Police Base in Bikita has been acquitted of rape charges after the court found that he and the complainant were in a consensual relationship at the time of the alleged incident.

Masvingo Magistrate Archie Wochiungwa cleared the officer when he appeared before the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court on July 2, 2026, ruling that no offence had been committed.

The State alleged that on May 10, 2025, at about 11 am, the complainant, who is now 19, had gone to Chikuku Business Centre with her two brothers when they met the accused as he was walking home.

The officer allegedly asked her to accompany him to his homestead at Chikuku Police Base to help carry water. She agreed and carried two buckets of water to his residence.

According to the prosecution, after they arrived, the accused removed his police uniform, placed the buckets inside the house and invited the complainant to sit on the bed, where they had sexual intercourse.

He allegedly asked her not to tell anyone and promised to marry her before escorting her back to Magudu Business Centre.

The matter remained unreported for about seven months. It only came to light after the complainant discovered she was pregnant and informed the accused, who denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

Following his denial, her parents then chased her away from home. Her mother subsequently reported the case to the police.

During the trial, both the complainant and her mother testified that the case was only reported after the accused denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

In his ruling, Magistrate Wochiungwa found that the evidence did not establish the offence of rape. He noted that the matter had only been reported seven months after the alleged incident, and only after the accused denied responsibility for the pregnancy.

“The report was made after seven months, when she found she was pregnant, when the accused denied the pregnancy, and when her parents chased her away. She did not report the matter earlier,” said Magistrate Wochiungwa.

The magistrate also observed that the complainant, her mother and the accused all confirmed in their evidence that the complainant and the accused were in a relationship and remained in regular contact after the alleged incident.

More: Tell Zimbabwe