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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
The High Court today dismissed bail application by RMG Independent End Time Message church leader Robert Martin Gumbura in a case in which he is accused of raping another woman.Justice Esther Muremba threw out the bail application arguing that his release will cause public disharmony considering that he is a church leader who fellowships with his alleged victims.
The court held that the State had a strong case against him and that if convicted he is likely to face a lengthy prison term.
Justice Muremba also considered that Gumbura was facing several other cases in which he awaits judgment.
When Gumbura first appeared at the Harare magistrate court, he was being accused of raping 11 women.
When the trial started one of them was out of the country while three other cases were separated from the other seven for the purposes of trial.
Gumbura was tried and now awaits judgment for allegedly raping seven women.
Trial in respect of the four women whom he allegedly raped with the assistance of his personal assistant Tendai Ganyani has already started.
The bail application that is pending at the High Court is in respect of the case of the woman who was in South Africa when the other trials kicked off.
The woman is now back in Zimbabwe from South Africa and Gumbura is seeking bail in respect of that woman’s case.
On the latest case, Gumbura is alleged to have raped the woman early 2009 at House Number 6 Helena Close Marlborough with the assistance of his secretary Ms Tendai Ganyani.
Both are being charged with rape.
Mr Innocent Muchini of the National Prosecuting Authority appeared for the State while Ms Rekayi Maphosa and Mr Emmanuel Samundombe represented Gumbura.
Online Reporter