'Wife' exposes rapist in church

THE desire to seek divine intervention from the church gave away a rape suspect after his victim reported him to pastors, leading to his arrest.

The incident witnessed by Miracle Word International Ministry congregants happened last Sunday at around 2pm.

In an interview, the church spokesperson, Mr Clemence Maunganidze, said Eliot Dhavu (24) of Nemamwa Growth Point in Masvingo arrived at the church accompanied by a 15-year-old girl.

"On Sunday around 2pm, the man who identified himself as Dhavu, arrived at our church complaining that his body was itching and he wanted divine help from the pastors. Dhavu was accompanied by a girl who he claimed was his wife," said Mr Maunganidze.

Maunganidze said the church leader, Pastor Dickson Nhumwa, prayed for Dhavu after which he called the girl to also come in front so that she could receive deliverance.

"When the girl went in front, Pastor Nhumwa prayed for her leading to the manifestation of demons. After the demons were cast away, the girl was back to her senses and revealed that Dhavu was not her husband. She told Pastor Nhumwa that Dhavu had taken her from her rural home in Mapanzure area near Nemamwa Growth Point under the guise of having found a job for her," he said.

He said the girl, who is an orphan and Grade Seven dropout, was staying with her grandmother and accepted Dhavu's proposal to work as a maid in Masvingo.

"The suspected rapist first took the girl to his relatives in Nemamwa where he instead of living up to his promise of a job, took her for a wife. The two allegedly started being intimate against the girls' consent and she even revealed that she was now two months pregnant with Dhavu's child," he said.

Maunganidze said when the girl was busy narrating her ordeal to the whole church, Dhavu, who had remained pensive all along, bolted out of the worshippers and ran away.

Police officers in civilian clothes and part of the worshippers, however, gave chase and managed to apprehend him.

He said Dhavu was arrested and the girl was taken to a safe house where she is being taken care of by church members.

The girl also revealed that, while at Nemamwa, she was forced to remain in a room for about two months before spending three days walking to town on foot without eating anything. She alleged Dhavu would continue raping her while in the bush.

Masvingo police confirmed the arrest of Dhavu, who is expected to appear in court soon.