By Rangarirai Shanyurai
A couple appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Catherine Tafira facing charges of public indecency after allegedly being caught having sexual intercourse in a parked vehicle near a cemetery.
The couple, James Mamvura and Natasha Mhita pleaded not guilty and were granted bail and will be back in court on on October 16.
It was the state’s case as presented by prosecutor Tichaona Chakavarika that on October 2, 2024 at around 1620 hours, Chikato ZRP team consisting of two sergeants and a constable were on patrol on their way going to Victoria Ranch when they saw a Toyota Hiace parked near Jairos Jiri Cemetery.
The court was told that the two saw a police vehicle approaching and they quickly dressed and tried to flee but failed as the road was narrow and were blocked.
The police instructed Mamvura to disembark from the vehicle and he complied. They searched the vehicle and saw an invalid vehicle registration number and insurance.
Mamvura in his defence however refuted the police’s claims that they were naked and being intimate saying he was seated at the driver’s seat while Mhita was at the front passenger seat.
He claimed that they were guarding the vehicle which belonged to his aunt and had had a mechanical fault and he had no driver’s licence.
He also claimed that the police took US$387 and the car keys from his pockets when they searched him which they did not return, which is why they lied that they had found them naked.
He said he confronted the police who took away his cellphone and he proceeded to Chikato Police station where he reported the matter but no action was taken only for them to be summoned three days later.
