Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A 35-YEAR-OLD Zvishavane pastor has appeared in court facing allegations of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old congregant after threatening to shoot him during a visit to the victim’s home in Redcliff.
Severino Mbwende, a pastor at New Creation Life Church, appeared before Kwekwe magistrate Mrs Mildred Matuvi, charged with aggravated indecent assault. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to September 4 for plea recording.
The court heard that on August 10, at around 11PM, Mbwende retired to bed with the complainant while visiting the family. At about 1.30AM, the complainant allegedly woke up to find the pastor caressing him.
According to court papers, the complainant questioned Mbwende’s actions, but the accused forcibly removed his boxer shorts despite resistance. The State alleges that Mbwende then threatened to shoot the complainant with a gun if he screamed or resisted. Out of fear, the complainant complied.
The accused allegedly ordered the complainant to lie on his stomach before sodomising him. It is further alleged that Mbwende repeated the offence two more times the same night.
Afterwards, Mbwende allegedly warned the complainant that he would shoot him if he disclosed the matter to anyone.
He later left for Zvishavane at around 6.30AM, where he works.
The complainant later confided in his aunt, who assisted in making a police report, leading to Mbwende’s arrest.
