adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A POLICEMAN stationed at Chivi police station has appeared in court facing allegations of raping a married former classmate at his house. Constable Gibson Kanengoni, 34, is alleged to have met the woman, who is a teacher and lied that her relative was ill and desperately wanted to see her. He asked her to visit the said relative and she complied, only to be raped after going into a house where the sick person was said to be living. The alleged crime allegedly occurred in February, but the woman only reported the matter to the police on August 1. Appearing before Masvingo regional magistrate Collet Ncube yesterday, Kanengoni pleaded not guilty to a rape charge.
He was remanded out of custody to Monday for judgment and sentence. In his defence, Kanengoni, through his lawyer Collins Maboke of Maboke and Ruvengo Legal Practitioners, said his former classmate was framing him.
“If my client raped you, why did it take you so long to report the matter to the police? The events show there was no rape and the sexual intercourse was consensual,” said Maboke. The victim said she had delayed reporting the matter to the police as she feared that the case would attract media attention resulting in her losing her job in the civil service.
Prosecuting, Joshua Mundondo told the court that in February, Kanengoni met his victim in Masvingo and duped her into believing that a sick relative staying at Target Kopje in Masvingo desperately wanted to see her.
“On February 29, Kanengoni and the complainant met at ZB Bank in Masvingo where the former told the latter that her relative who stayed in Target Kopje suburb was seriously ill. “He pleaded with her to visit the relative and she complied,” said Mundondo.
The court heard that the two proceeded to Target Kopje and upon arrival, Kanengoni is said to have unlocked a door and invited the teacher inside a room used as a kitchen. The two sat on chairs before Kanengoni locked the door. The court heard that while the woman was anxiously waiting to see the said sick relative, Kanengoni grabbed her and dragging her into the bedroom.
He threw her onto the bed and raped her once. After the alleged rape, Kanengoni left the place leaving the woman behind. After some time, the court heard, the victim left the place but did not inform anyone of the rape until on August 1 when she made report at Masvingo Central Police Station.
She was referred to Masvingo General Hospital for medical examination where a medical report was produced.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi