Zanu-PF chair acquitted on rape charges

GWERU regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire yesterday acquitted a Zanu-PF district chairperson of rape charges after the State failed to prove its case that he committed the offence.

Vitalis Nyasha Nyesvu (59), who is the ruling party's chairperson for Lalapanzi district was being accused of raping a 12-year-old girl.

Nyesvu of Chishuku Village 2A, Lalapanzi, allegedly forced himself on the minor after ambushing the complainant on her way to school.

But Nemadire said the rape allegations only arose after the girl was discovered with sweets, which (sweets) could not be linked to the offence.

After his acquittal, Nyesvu heaved a sigh of relief, before walking out of the court with his relatives,

Prosecutor Munyaradzi Guveya had told the court that on September 8, 2016 at around 12pm, the girl was on her way to a local school when she met the accused in a bushy area.

Nyesvu allegedly dragged her to a secluded place before raping her once.

After forcing himself on the juvenile, Nyesvu gave the complainant some sweets before threatening to kill her with a knife if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

The minor, however, later narrated her ordeal to her aunt after the latter had asked her where she got the sweets she had.