Online Reporter
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
IN a courageous and meticulously planned operation, Bulawayo-based businesswoman and philanthropist, founder of Mental Voices Foundation, Ms Sipho Mazibuko, played a pivotal role in bringing a suspected sexual predator to justice.
The case, which has shaken the local community, involves the complainant’s uncle, a cross-border transporter who is accused of heinously violating his 16-year-old niece repeatedly, under the guise of “healing” her ailing mother’s unknown illness.
That resulted in the accused raping the victim on 10 separate occasions.
The twisted narrative was revealed following the arrest of the uncle aged 42 and his mother (name supplied) aged 66, leaving family and community members grappling with disbelief and anger over how such a betrayal could occur within a family.
The disturbing crime occurred in Nyawuza homestead, Mabheleni Village in Mbembesi, in Matabeleland North Province.
The harrowing rape came to light through Ms Mazibuko’s Mental Voices Foundation, which saw her put in place a trap that led to the uncle’s eventual arrest.
In her role in the arrest, Ms Mazibuko pretended to be a client seeking the uncle’s services in transporting a set of vintage sofas from Bulawayo to South Africa before luring him into an affectionate relationship, filled with riches and world travel.
In messages gleaned by this reporter, Ms Mazibuko promised the man a world where he would never have to toil in work. She, pretending to be a rich businesswoman, offered him a life of luxury and travel to countries such as Dubai and China.
The deal was that he would leave his occupation as a cross-border trader to become a “toy boy” to Ms Mazibuko.
The plan, which involved police detectives, was set in motion after a concerned relative contacted Ms Mazibuko for assistance as the complainant had become suicidal.
“Initially, the plan was to nab him by acting like we sought his services as a cross-border transporter. But then he was elusive and, I hatched a plan to pretend to be interested in developing a fondness towards him. It was all hook, line and sinker after he fell for the trap,” said Ms Mazibuko.
In the messages, the uncle sent some explicit decals, portraying himself and Ms Mazibuko engaging in sexual acts.
From a very formal encounter, the relationship turned into an “affectionate” relationship.
“In our communication, we were supposed to meet some weeks ago, before arranging a rendezvous on Thursday, leading to his apprehension,” said Ms Mazibuko.
The uncle was arrested unsuspectingly at a fuel service station in the CBD before his appearance in court yesterday.
He appeared before regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza, who remanded the case to 11 April.
Both the uncle and his mother will be in custody.
According to court documents, the first incident occurred on 4 February at about 10pm, when Kelly arrived from delivering goods from South Africa to locals.
“. . . the complainant was studying in her room when the two accused persons entered the room. The first accused (mother) instructed the complainant to have sexual intercourse with the second accused (the uncle), if she wanted her mother to be healed from the sickness she was suffering from. Out of desperation, the complainant agreed to,” reads part of the court document.
It was then stated that the first accused then left the room, leaving the complainant to rape the victim.
“He ordered the complainant to lie on the bed and had unprotected sexual intercourse with the complainant twice,” the document reads.
Thereafter, on every weekend, it was alleged that he would come from his South African base and rape the complainant.
“On 14 March, the complainant narrated her ordeal to a relative, who then alerted Sipho Mazibuko, the founder of Miss Rural Zimbabwe, who then came to the complainant’s rescue on 16 March. The complainant was referred for medical examination.”
Both the accused persons are being represented by a Mr A Dube of Malinga and Mpofu Legal Practice, who tried to apply for an out-of-custody remand for the mother.
He challenged the court’s decision to remand her in custody, saying she had no tangible role in abiding by the crime.
“I am applying for an application for refusal of remand for the second accused as she has no active role in the alleged crime. She is accused of rape, which is defined as an incident of a male forcibly having sexual intercourse with a female person. A woman can only be charged with rape if she is holding the complainant while he performs the act.
According to the State’s outline, this cannot be the case,” said Mr Dube.
However, the application was dismissed by Mr Mabeza, who noted that the uncle’s role in coercing the complainant through emotional blackmail was subject to the matter.
Mr Jethro Mada represented the State.
