adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A MAN from Nkayi almost collapsed in court when witnesses he had called to testify that he was falsely accused of rape turned against him. Nqobizitha Mabuchwa, 29, allegedly raped a Nkayi headman’s wife at knifepoint and later accompanied her home begging her not to tell of the abuse.
He called two witnesses including his nephew, who told the court Mabuchwa raped the woman.
Mabuchwa appeared before regional magistrate Trynos Utahwashe facing a rape charge and pleaded not guilty.
He told the court he was having an affair with the woman, 25, behind the headman’s back.
After confidently summoning his “star witnesses,” Mabuchwa was left with egg on his face when they refused to confirm his story.
“Mabuchwa is my uncle and there’s nothing much I can say except that he raped the headman’s wife,” said one of the witnesses.
Magistrate Utahwashe remanded Mabuchwa in custody to December 15.
A deflated Mabuchwa told the court: “I didn’t rape this woman. We spent the whole day together and we even had sex twice and she got home at around 2AM after attending a party. I accompanied her home and when she failed to explain why she came home late, she lied and told the headman that I raped her,” said Mabuchwa.
He told the court that he has had sex countless times with the woman whom he alleged, was the reason why he separated with his wife.
“I was so in love with her that my wife ended up dumping me Your Worship. She is making up the rape story to save her marriage but we were in love.”
The woman alleges that Mabuchwa met her while she was on her way home from a party at around 8PM sometime in August 2012.
“I left the party at around 8PM and as I was walking. Mabuchwa approached me asking who was accompanying me home. I told him I was alone. He raced ahead of me and ambushed me,” she said.
The woman narrated how Mabuchwa suddenly appeared in front of her and started slapping her.
She said Mabuchwa produced a knife and threatened to stab her if she made noise.
“He threw me to the ground and raped me. Afterwards he begged me not to tell anyone,” said the woman.
She said Mabuchwa followed her home when he realised that she was not complying with his request.
“When I got home I immediately told my husband and we made a police report. Mabuchwa fled from the village and was arrested a month later in September,” the woman said.
The State was led by Robin Mukura.
Online Reporter