News / Local
Methodist reverend accused of rape testifies
03 Apr 2016 at 07:39hrs | Views
A METHODIST Church in Zimbabwe reverend who is alleged to have raped a female congregant has denied the charges, saying he never met her on the day in question.
Manica Post reported that Gladman Chauya (33) is accused of raping a congregant on January 10, 2015 after he had allegedly lured her to his house.
Testifying in court last Tuesday, Chauya alleged that he had spent the said day indoors.
He further claimed that he had spent the previous night at an all-night prayer and was tired. He said he had rested that whole day at his home.
"I did not even have the power to leave the house as I was tired from the all-night prayer that I had attended the previous night. She called me at around 4pm telling me about her painful leg and arm. About 30 minutes later she arrived at my place to collect the medicine that I had. Your Worship, my nephew was with me at the house and he was the one who opened the gate and door for her. I wonder why she would claim that I raped her when I was not even home alone," he claimed.
Responding to the recordings that were played in court as evidence, Chauya said he was not a voice expert and therefore could not determine if indeed the two voices that spoke were a female and a male voice.
He denied ever calling the complainant persuading to marry her secretly as a way of stopping her from reporting the rape to the police as had been alleged in the call recordings.
Chauya went on to tell the court that the rape matter was a fabrication and that the complainant and her witnesses had a plan to ouster him from his position as their reverend since they had at one time promised to deal with him.
Chauya appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Livingstone Chipadza.
Representing the man of cloth were Mutare lawyers, Justin Fusire and Mr Innocent Mandikate as Malvern Musarurwa prosecuted.
Allegations were that on January 10, 2015, Chauya visited the complainant who was not feeling well at her place of residence and advised her to accompany him to his residence so that his wife would give her medicine to ease the pain.
"Upon arrival, the complainant discovered that Chauya's wife was not at home. Chauya took the medicine and tried to massage the complainant with it, but she refused and asked for a toilet," said Musarurwa.
It is alleged that as the complainant was on her way to the toilet, Chauya dragged her into his bedroom and fondled her breasts and private parts before raping her.
The complainant is alleged to have cried for help, but no-one came to her rescue.
The court heard that after the rape, Chauya took her back to her house.
Musarurwa went on to tell the court that the matter was initially reported to church elders, but was later reported to the police after the elders failed to take any action against Chauya.
Chauya was remanded in custody to April 8 for the court's ruling.
Manica Post reported that Gladman Chauya (33) is accused of raping a congregant on January 10, 2015 after he had allegedly lured her to his house.
Testifying in court last Tuesday, Chauya alleged that he had spent the said day indoors.
He further claimed that he had spent the previous night at an all-night prayer and was tired. He said he had rested that whole day at his home.
"I did not even have the power to leave the house as I was tired from the all-night prayer that I had attended the previous night. She called me at around 4pm telling me about her painful leg and arm. About 30 minutes later she arrived at my place to collect the medicine that I had. Your Worship, my nephew was with me at the house and he was the one who opened the gate and door for her. I wonder why she would claim that I raped her when I was not even home alone," he claimed.
Responding to the recordings that were played in court as evidence, Chauya said he was not a voice expert and therefore could not determine if indeed the two voices that spoke were a female and a male voice.
He denied ever calling the complainant persuading to marry her secretly as a way of stopping her from reporting the rape to the police as had been alleged in the call recordings.
Chauya went on to tell the court that the rape matter was a fabrication and that the complainant and her witnesses had a plan to ouster him from his position as their reverend since they had at one time promised to deal with him.
Chauya appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Livingstone Chipadza.
Representing the man of cloth were Mutare lawyers, Justin Fusire and Mr Innocent Mandikate as Malvern Musarurwa prosecuted.
Allegations were that on January 10, 2015, Chauya visited the complainant who was not feeling well at her place of residence and advised her to accompany him to his residence so that his wife would give her medicine to ease the pain.
"Upon arrival, the complainant discovered that Chauya's wife was not at home. Chauya took the medicine and tried to massage the complainant with it, but she refused and asked for a toilet," said Musarurwa.
It is alleged that as the complainant was on her way to the toilet, Chauya dragged her into his bedroom and fondled her breasts and private parts before raping her.
The complainant is alleged to have cried for help, but no-one came to her rescue.
The court heard that after the rape, Chauya took her back to her house.
Musarurwa went on to tell the court that the matter was initially reported to church elders, but was later reported to the police after the elders failed to take any action against Chauya.
Chauya was remanded in custody to April 8 for the court's ruling.
Source - Manica Post
