adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
TWO men employed by prominent Bulawayo lawyer Tawengwa Hara allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl. Givemore Shoko’s rape offence was discovered a few weeks ago when the girl, doing Grade Six, revealed that Martin Dube, who had been arraigned for raping her, was not her first attacker. Shoko appeared before senior regional magistrate Mark Dzira facing rape charges and pleaded not guilty.
His employer, Hara, was one of his defence witnesses.
“I only employed him after the alleged date of the rape offence. He started working for me in 2014, months after the day being mentioned by the complainant,” said Hara who is also a Zifa board member.
Magistrate Dzira remanded the matter to July 24 for judgment.
Tinashe Dzipe told the court that during the month of January, the girl proceeded to Hara’s homestead to collect vegetable seedlings. “When she arrived, she found Shoko alone and he gave her the seedlings. Before she could leave, Shoko ordered her to lie down in the garden facing upwards and the girl complied,” said Dzipe.
“He undressed and raped the girl. The girl dressed up and went home. The matter came to light during a medical examination after the doctor told her aunt that she had been sexually abused before Dube allegedly raped her.”
Shoko and Dube are both represented by Gary Sengweni of T Hara and Partners. During an earlier appearance, Dube also pleaded not guilty to rape charges, saying he was set up by the girl’s stepmother who hates his employer.
“This girl did not come to my place of residence and she was in the company of her grandmother on the day of the alleged offence. After fetching water, she went with her brother and there’s no way I could have sexually abused her,” said Dube.
Concilia Ncube for the State alleged that on May 4 at around 4PM the girl, who is doing Grade Six, proceeded to Hara’s homestead to fetch water where Dube is employed.
“Upon arrival she found Dube alone and he called her into his room. Dube closed his bedroom door and undressed before stripping the girl,” said Ncube.
Ncube said the girl did not report the matter to anyone until her aunt heard rumours that she was once seen leaving Dube’s room. Her aunt reported the matter to a child protection member who interviewed the girl. During the interview the girl revealed that she was raped, leading to Dube’s arrest.
Online Reporter