Another Zim pastor in court for raping congregants

CHINHOYI - Hardly a month after RMG End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura was sentenced to an effective 40-year jail term for sexually abusing his female congregants, another clergyman - Eric Makina of the Good Samaritan Church in Kadoma - appeared at the Chinhoyi Regional Court on Thursday facing similar charges.

Makina (43) faces 10 counts of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault - involving two married members of his church's praise and worship team.

One of the alleged victims told trial magistrate Never Katiyo that Makina allegedly raped her while she was five months pregnant.

The State case, led by Nyasha Katurura, was that between 2005 and January this year, Makina would on several occasions sexually molest the female congregant, since she was 17 years old, at various places, including his bedroom, church office and fellow worshippers' houses in Kadoma, Harare and Goromonzi.

In count one (indecent assault), the first complainant told the court that sometime in 2005, the man of the cloth summoned her to his office for counselling and as soon as she entered, he grabbed her, fondled her breasts and kissed her.

In the second count (rape), the court heard that in the same year accused called the complainant to his church office where he fondled her breast and kissed her before lifting her skirt and forced her to bend.

Makina allegedly went on to have sexual intercourse with complainant without her consent.

While giving her evidence-in-chief in camera, the witness, who constantly broke in tears, said following the sex attack, the bishop warned her against telling anyone of the abuse saying if the complainant did so, she would be solely responsible for the church's downfall, hence she kept the abuse a secret for so long.

The court heard in 2006, the complainant got married to the bishop's "spiritual son" and employee at the church. The couple then decided to relocate to Vinyu suburb before moving to Rimuka's GB Section as the newly-weds faced financial difficulties.

Makina, the court heard, however, dissuaded the couple from staying in the suburb, saying it was "unfashionable" for people of their stature and offered them two rooms at the church premises.

In 2011, at a fellow church member's house in Goromonzi where they had gone on church business, Makina allegedly sneaked into a room where the complainant was sleeping, caressed her private parts and walked out.

On another sojourn to Goromonzi, the court heard, the team slept over at Makina's younger brother's house in Harare where the man of the cloth stormed into the bathroom where the complainant was taking a shower. Makina, who was allegedly wearing a condom, attempted to rape the complainant, but she resisted.

In her testimony, the woman, now aged 26, said sometime in 2012 when she was five months' pregnant, Makina offered her a job as an assistant at the church. On one of the days, the bishop allegedly tasked her to sort out requirements for the pre-school in his office.

She told the court that while she was behind the office door, Makina came from behind, grabbed and raped her.

The clergyman allegedly repeated the sex attack on the complainant on the church office desk after he forcibly removed the child strapped on her back.
Sometime in May 2013, Makina allegedly summoned her to his office where he kissed her and let her off.

The latest attack which triggered her to spill the beans allegedly occurred on January 16 this year where Makina attempted to rape the woman inside a storeroom at the church.

After the incident, the complainant broke her silence and narrated her ordeals to her friend, husband, a pastor and her parents.

All in all, the bishop is facing five counts of rape, one of attempted rape and three of indecent assault involving the first State witness.

Another complainant, now aged 25, said sometime in 2005 she was taken to Christmas Pass in Mutare by Makina, who allegedly attempted to rape her after sliding his hands into her panties.

After she blocked him, Makina allegedly proposed love to the then 16-year-old, but she spurned his advances. The girl quit the church on her return to Kadoma and told her parents of the bishop's actions, but the matter was kept under wraps.

Police pounced on Makina last month after receiving an anonymous tip-off, presumably from congregants at the Good Samaritan Church.

Makina was remanded in custody to February 28 for continuation of trial.