adminMidlands Reporter
A Gweru regional magistrate yesterday sentenced a self-proclaimed prophet and leader of an apostolic sect to 18 years in prison for raping a congregant. Wellington Lawa, 34, of 4958 Mkoba Village 11, will, however, serve an effective 15 years after regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire suspended three years for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Passing the sentence, Nemadire said: “The sentence is justified in its severity because the act of rape is ugly disrespect and disregard for a woman’s privacy that not only affects the victim physically but emotionally and psychologically as well. It is moreover disheartening when our men of the cloth who are supposed to be leaders take advantage of the faith, respect and commitment of their congregation, hence such callousness has to be effectively dealt with by the courts who are the custodians and executioners of justice.”
Prosecutor Emmanuel Matosi told the court that on June 5 in 2008, Lawa who serves as a prophet at Chiratidzo Chitsva Apostolic sect went to visit the complainant who was a member of the same church.
The complainant, whose husband works outside the city, was alone with her daughter when the faith healer and church leader visited her.
The woman sent her daughter to the shops to buy bread so that she could prepare tea for him.
Lawa immediately seized the opportunity and proceeded to rape the complainant once.
The complainant told the court that Lawa threatened to cast a spell on her and send goblins to harass her if she divulged the rape incident.
However, the complainant was only able to gather the courage to tell her husband two months down the line after he had asked her why she had stopped attending church services.
The complainant’s husband reported the matter to the police leading to Lawa’s arrest.
derick.khumalo