Rape charge pastor acquitted

A PASTOR from Bulawayo was yesterday acquitted of rape after a medical report exonerated him.

There was drama when an elderly woman left the court in a huff in protest over X-rated unprintable language that the pastor and the complainant used during the trial.

Julius Mazanga (25), the founder of Eternal Christ Embassy, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube and pleaded not guilty to rape.

He was found not guilty and discharged.

It was the State's case that Mazanga raped his ex-girlfriend and former church mate on Monday.

Presenting the State case, Mr Claude Fombe said: "On November 21 this year, the accused person and the complainant agreed to meet at Downstream Car Park in Pumula South and talk to each other since they hadn't met for a long time. They later agreed to proceed to the accused person's sister's home".

He said when they got to the house, they sat on a bed as there were no chairs.

"The accused person started fondling the complainant's breasts. He pinned her to the bed, undressed her and raped her once. After the encounter, Mazanga escorted the complainant home," said Mr Fombe.

He said the woman later proceeded to the police to file a report.

In his defence, Mazanga told the court that the complainant is the one who insisted that they go to his sister's house.

"I did not rape her. She came to me and sat on my lap and started kissing me. I responded but I did not rape her. I am glad the medical report has come to my rescue. I did not penetrate her."

The State failed to find solid evidence against Mazanga and submitted that it had no case against him.

Mr Fombe said: "The complainant's testimony must be taken with a pinch of salt as it is characterised by a barrage of imperfections.

"That kind of offence is so distressful to victims and it boggles the mind why the complainant would move from the place of occurrence with the accused person and not tell anyone along the way. She reported that she had been raped but it is only after the results of the medical report that she says the accused person attempted to rape her".

Members of the church ululated in celebration and court orderlies failed to control them.