Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
A 23-year-old Chitungwiza woman endured a series of sexual assaults after being coerced into bizarre “cleansing rituals” by her ex-boyfriend, who claimed he was acting under the instructions of his sangoma.
The accused, Tatenda Justice Charamba (25), forced the victim to perform degrading acts – including performing sexual acts with a lizard – before raping her on three separate occasions.
Charamba, an employee at the Chitungwiza City Council head office, pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape.
However, after a full trial, Chitungwiza magistrate, Ms Gloria Takundwa, found him guilty and initially sentenced him to 10 years in prison for each count.
Ten years were suspended, leaving him with an effective 20-year jail term.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor, Mr Tendai Ruwocha, the ordeal began in February this year when Charamba visited the complainant claiming he had performed rituals using a condom the two had once used during their relationship in 2023.
He told her they had made a “covenant” that would affect her future marriage if not reversed, insisting they perform rituals together to avert misfortunes.
Despite her refusal, Charamba forced her to accompany him to Manyame Dam on March 19.
When they got there, he threatened her while carrying a bottle containing the used condom, a snake, a feather and a red cloth inscribed with their names.
He threw the bottle into the dam as part of his claimed rituals.
Two days later, on March 21, Charamba returned and told her that the ritual had failed because she, not him, was supposed to throw the bottle into the water.
He warned that failure to redo the ritual would result in death or madness for both of them and her family.
He then demanded sex as part of the “correction process.”
When she refused, he threatened to bring a snake, frog and lizard to “sleep with her.”
Under duress, she chose the lizard, which he brought in an empty container before leaving.
The following day, Charamba called again, claiming his sangoma had instructed him to have sex with her before the end of the day or risk her death.
Terrified, she went to his house around 3pm, where he forced her to have protected sex.
Afterwards, he told her they had to repeat the ritual two more times and warned her not to disclose anything.
On March 27, at around 10pm, Charamba jumped over the precast wall at the complainant’s home and confronted her, insisting the “second stage” of the ritual had to be completed.
He took her to the garage, gave her “ritual water” and oil to apply on her body, and raped her without protection and consent.
He again instructed her to keep the matter a secret and set another date for the final ritual.
The third count occurred on April 10 around 4pm.
Charamba took her to a bushy area and ordered her to bring her current boyfriend’s underwear.
He raped her again and burnt both their undergarments along with the used condom from their previous encounter, claiming this was part of the cleansing process.
The traumatised woman finally confided in a friend on June 4, who urged her to tell her pastor.
The pastor instructed her to file a police report immediately, leading to Charamba’s arrest.
