Teen withdraws rape charges against assailant

Shamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A MAN from Bulawayo who allegedly raped his ex-wife’s sister yesterday walked out of court a free man after the victim withdrew charges. Tendai Marecha,30, of Entumbane suburb, allegedly raped the 15-year-old girl and told her she should become his wife because he had already impregnated her. The juvenile indicated her desire to withdraw the charges against Marecha in an affidavit which was also signed by her sister.

In the affidavit, the girl stated that they have resolved the matter as a family and she has since forgiven Marecha. Read the affidavit: “I am the complainant in the case of rape against Tendai Marecha who is my uncle. I wish to withdraw the matter against him because I have forgiven him. He also has a minor child with my sister and the child still needs his father’s care. We have resolved the matter as a family and I have already forgiven him.”

Western Commonage magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze dropped the charges against Marecha and told him to go and collect his $50 bail money from the clerk of court. Prosecuting, Maria John said sometime in July at around midday, the girl received a phone call from Marecha inviting her to his house in Entumbane.

She said the girl proceeded to the house and found him seated under a mango tree. The court heard they went into the house and she sat on a bed. Marecha, the court heard, locked the door. He later turned up the volume on a radio and pushed the girl down forcing her to lie facing upwards. “He forcibly removed her clothes and raped her once without protection. The girl tried to scream but the volume on the radio was too high for anyone to hear her,” said John.

“After committing the crime Marecha told the girl that she’ll have to live with him because she was already carrying his baby. The girl dressed up and demanded that Marecha should release her.” The court heard the girl went home and did not reveal the matter to anyone. A month later, the girl told a police officer who was passing through her neighbourhood of her ordeal and Marecha was arrested.