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Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A SELF-STYLED prophet from Chitungwiza, who raped his congregant on the pretext of warding off evil spirits, has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in jail.
Peter Pasi (40) was convicted of rape after a full trial by Chitungwiza regional magistrate Mrs Gloria Takundwa.
Prosecuting, Ms Pamela Dzinduwa proved that on June 16 at around 3pm and at Chirasavana Village, Chief Seke, the complainant aged 15 was attending a church service when Pasi prophesied that the complainant needed three days of prayer to chase away evil spirits.
On June 17 , the complainant attended the prayer and she was told to return at a later date alone.
The court heard on that day, the complainant proceeded to the church shrine where she was told to proceed into the bush and look for a Muhacha tree.
Pasi then spread a red cloth on the ground under the Muhacha tree pretending as if he was doing the process of casting away evil spirits.
He then covered the complainant’s face with a cloth and she knelt down on the cloth. He instructed her to lie down facing upwards.
Soon after that Pasi forced himself on her and had unprotected sex with the complainant.
Although she tried to scream, nobody was able to hear her, the court heard.
She confided in her neighbour about the rape and also informed her grandmother who escorted her to report the matter to the police.
Online Reporter