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Thandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
A PROPHET from Bulawayo has been acquitted of allegedly raping his best friend’s pregnant wife after “giving her anointed salt.”
Brighton Sibanda, 32, was being accused of raping the woman, 18, last year but the incident only came to light when his friend saw “visions” in a dream of the two having sexual intercourse.
Sibanda was acquitted at the close of the State case after regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere granted an application for discharge by his lawyer with prosecutor Simbarashe Manyiwa consenting.
Mberewere condemned the growing trend of married women who engage in extra marital sex and later embarrass their husbands by making false rape reports to cover their shameful acts.
“On February 12, 2015, complainant visited the prophet at his Riverside home and spent the day there. At around 12 noon, he administered a ‘prayer’ and gave her some water with salt,” he said.
“At around 5PM, Sibanda had intercourse with the woman and gave her a towel to wipe herself before accompanying her home. During the act, the woman didn’t resist but said when she wanted to scream, Sibanda hushed her up twice and she complied.
“She got home around 6PM and did not report the rape as she was scared. On March 4, her husband had a dream of the two having sex and she took the opportunity to explain how Sibanda had raped her.”
Mberewere said the woman’s evidence did not establish rape and her reasons for failing to resist, scream or shout were unconvincing.
“Her husband is a liar who invented a story about a silly dream in order to intimidate his wife to confess. There’s no place in our law for evidence based on dreams. The court is worried by the rising trend of married women engaging in stupid sexual scandals and then cause their husbands to come to court and make fools of themselves trying to provide corroboration for non-existent rape allegations,” he said before acquitting Sibanda.
Manyiwa had alleged that Sibanda met the woman through his friend and intended to pray for her as she was having stomach problems.
“On February 12, Sibanda went to his friend’s home and failed to pray for her as the friend wasn’t around. He then gave the woman a $1 to go and receive prayers from his house,” said Manyiwa.
The court heard that the woman went to Sibanda’s house where she was allegedly raped.
Sidumisile Mabena