Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A Kwekwe regional magistrate has sentenced a cross-dresser and socialite, Rangarirai Mutangi (31), popularly known as “Mama Bless,” to an effective 75 years in prison after convicting him on multiple child sexual abuse charges involving young boys and a girl in Mbizo suburb.
Mutangi appeared before Kwekwe Regional magistrate, Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, facing two counts of rape, five counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of indecent assault following abuse of six children, five boys and one girl, from December 2024 to April 2026.
He was convicted after a full trial against his own plea of not guilty.
Ms Mugwagwa handed Mutangi 15 years for counts one and two, 15 years for counts three and four, 15 years for counts six and seven, a further 15 years for count seven and lastly 15 years for count eight, giving him an effective 75-year prison stay.
Prosecutor, Ms Michelle Daraja Nyamadzawo, appeared for the State.
She told the court that on count one, the complainant is a female juvenile aged 9 and is a Grade 5 pupil. The court heard that Mutangi and the complainant are not related, but they stay in the same neighbourhood.
“On the date unknown to the prosecutor but during the period extending from January 2026 to April 2026, the complainant was playing outside the house when the accused called him into the room,” said Ms Nyamadzawo.
She told the court that the complainant complied and got into the room where Mutangi told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her and she denied.
“The accused threatened to kill the complainant with a gun and he removed her dress. The accused then lowered his trousers and pants and mounted on top of the complainant and raped her,” she said.
The court heard that the complainant later went home and did not disclose the matter to anyone due to fear.
Ms Nyamadzawo, using the same modus operandi, Mutangi raped the compliant once more during April 2026. The matter came to light after the complainant’s father heard rumours in the community that Mutangi abused children and quizzed the complainant.
At this juncture, she disclosed her ordeal to the effect that the accused raped her twice on different occasions. A report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of Mutangi.
The court heard that on count three and on a date unknown to the prosecutor but during December 2024 and at 350/1 Mbizo, Mutangi called the complainant to his room and gave him his cellphone to watch pornographic videos.
He forced the complainant to lie on his stomach on the bed and took some Vaseline or jelly-like substance that was packed in a white package and applied it to the complainant’s back.
He went on to have anal sexual intercourse with him without his consent once.
The court heard that Mutangi threatened to shoot the complainant with a gun if he reported the matter to anyone. The matter came to light when the complainant narrated his ordeal to his mother.
The court heard that Mutangi abused other boys mentioned in counts four to eight using the same method.
