Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court writer
A Bishop from the St Emmanuel Apostolic Church, based in Bulawayo’s Njube suburb, who had been accused of sexually assaulting and fondling a young female congregant, has been acquitted after the court delivered a verdict of not guilty.
Mr Joseph Munetsi appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate, Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla, who ruled that the State had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
In her ruling, Ms Mkandla stated that the prosecution’s evidence was riddled with inconsistencies, noting that the alleged victim and her key witness provided conflicting statements.
She further concluded that the testimonies of the witnesses could not be corroborated and were ultimately deemed unbelievable by the court.
Mr Munetsi was represented by his solicitor, Mr Task Vhiki of Task Vhiki Attorneys.
Representing the State, Ms Tsungirai Charmaine Mutapi, had detailed the alleged offences to the court.
She stated that on July 4 last year, Bishop Munetsi visited the home of his junior pastor, where he found the 18-year-old female congregant alone, before allegedly fondling her.
Ms Mutapi presented the sequence of events: “He asked her if he could help her with anything she needed, but the girl told her that she did not need help. After that, he moved closer to her and kissed her before fondling her breasts and private parts.”
She continued by describing a strange ritualistic act following the alleged assault.
“After that, he told the complainant to go to the kitchen and bring water in a cup and salt. Upon returning, he put two teaspoons of salt into a cup full of water and mixed it. He prayed for the mixture and, after that, gave her to drink. He then left for home.”
Ms Mutapi said that Munetsi returned to the complainant’s home on August 15 last year, finding the young woman alone once more.
“He dragged her to her bedroom. He then instructed her to sleep on the floor. At first, the girl refused, but he then threatened to beat her up. The complainant lay on the floor and he carried out the sickening attack on her,” said Ms Mutapi.
Following the alleged sexual assault, the Bishop reportedly warned her not to disclose the incident to her parents or anyone, threatening to bewitch her if she ever revealed the ordeal.
Fearing the supposed curse, the girl initially kept the ordeal to herself, separating herself from family members and friends.
The incident allegedly took a significant toll on her, plunging her into depression, which eventually led to her being taken to the hospital. It was there that she revealed to nurses that she had been sexually assaulted by Bishop Munetsi.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
