adminNokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A Bulawayo pastor allegedly raped a member of his church, claiming he was exorcising evil spirits that would kill her father.
Greatness Tapfuma, 33, an Apostolic pastor reportedly claimed to have seen her being initiated into Satanism. He invited the 16-year-old girl to his home and proposed love to her. The girl turned him down but he later allegedly raped her several times.
Tapfuma appeared before Western Commonage Provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo facing several counts of rape.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody to March 2 on $300 bail.
Prosecuting Mufaro Mageza told the court that sometime in October last year, Tapfuma invited the girl to his house and proposed love to her.
“The girl turned down his proposal. Tapfuma told the girl that there were some evil spirits at her home and they were going to kill her father. He went on to tell the girl that she was going to become a Satanist and if she wanted to be saved, she had to fall in love with him,” said Mageza.
The court heard that after telling the girl about the misfortunes that would befall her, Tapfuma reportedly raped the girl thrice.
Sometime in November last year, Tapfuma allegedly invited the girl to his house and again raped her several times, the court heard.
The girl told her mother about the matter and she reported Tapfuma to the police.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu