Dickson Mapuranga
CHIVHU – A recently-divorced taxi driver, Tafara Prosper Muchena (33) last week appeared before magistrate Winfilda Tiyatara facing charges of raping a 20-year old married woman who was stranded near the Innscor Food Court.
The State alleged that on June 16 around 02:00 hrs, Muchena, who was not asked to plead but was placed on remand until 30 June, lured the stranded woman by offering to charge her phone that had run out of power as she waited for transport at Masvingo station along the highway.
The woman is said to have later went into Muchena’s car to check on the phone so that she could communicate with people at home but Muchena drove the car and parked close to the food outlet where he allegedly fondled her breasts, grabbed her by the neck and raped her once.
After the act, the accused tried to convince the woman to marry him but she refused but he tried to buy her trust by leaving his national identity card, phone number and his jacket with her before driving off to his place of residence.
The victim took advantage of those items and made a report at Chivhu Police Camp around 04:00 hrs.
Nicholas Mabvongodze stood for the State.local
