Chivi man acquitted of raping sister-in-law

A 22-year-old man from Chivi, who had been accused of raping his 13-year-old sister-in-law on two occasions, has been acquitted after the court found inconsistencies and weaknesses in the State’s case.

The accused, of Sitomu Village under Headman Madyangove, had faced two counts of rape involving the Grade 7 learner, of Mutsauri Village under Headman Madamombe.

He appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura on 14 September 2026, when the acquittal was delivered.

On the first count, the State alleged that on 15 April 2026, the accused and the complainant were travelling from Mutsauri Village to Chivi Hospital to visit the accused’s daughter, who was unwell.

Along the way, the accused reportedly asked the complainant to accompany him via his homestead, which lay along the route, and she agreed.

The court heard that they found the accused’s mother asleep in her bedroom, before the accused allegedly took the complainant into another bedroom, locked the door, and raped her. He is said to have threatened her with unspecified consequences if she disclosed what had happened.

On the second count, the State alleged that on 5 May 2026, the accused visited the complainant’s homestead while her mother was at church. The court heard that he went into a bedroom, called the complainant inside, and allegedly raped her.

According to the State, the matter came to light later that month, after the complainant’s sister was told by her mother-in-law that she had seen the complainant and the accused together in a bedroom with the door locked.

On 21 May, the complainant’s sister questioned her about the incident, leading to the alleged disclosure of the abuse.

The matter was subsequently reported at ZRP Mashava, resulting in the accused’s arrest.

The accused denied both allegations, telling the court that the case had been fabricated following the breakdown of his relationship with his ex-wife and mother-in-law.

On the first count, he said the complainant had simply followed him into the bedroom and that nothing had happened between them.

On the second, he said other people had been present at the homestead, where he had been doing construction work, and argued that the complainant’s sister had fabricated the allegations against him.

The State called three witnesses during the trial.

In his judgment, Magistrate Bepura raised concerns over several aspects of the State’s case, including the delayed reporting of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding their disclosure.

He noted that the matter was only reported after the accused’s relationship with the complainant’s family had broken down.

The magistrate also scrutinised the evidence relating to the first alleged incident, particularly the presence of the accused’s mother at the homestead.

Although the complainant alleged that the accused had led her from the kitchen into the bedroom, his mother, who was reportedly present at the time, did not hear any noise that might have raised suspicion.

The court further noted that one of the witnesses had threatened the accused with an axe during the course of the matter, a threat Bepura found unlawful and factored into his assessment of the evidence.

Having considered all the evidence, the court found that the State had failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt, and acquitted the accused on both counts.

More: TellZim News