Mother-in-law backs Kereke

Zanu-PF Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke's mother-in-law whose grandchildren were allegedly sexually abused by the legislator, yesterday stood by her son-in-law and exonerated him from the charges.

Kereke is facing allegations of raping his wife's 13-year-old niece in 2010 and indecently assaulting her sister at one of his houses in Vainona.

His mother-in-law Anna Muswapadare, a member of the Johane Masowe Wechishanu maintained that the legislator was innocent adding that her grandchildren were liars.

She said the victims are her son's children who is based in the United States. She, however, clarified that Richard Farai Muswapadare, the children's father was not her biological son, but a stepson.

In her evidence while being led by Kereke's lawyer Mr Erum Mutandiro, Anna accused her grandchildren of being liars who were framing charges against her son-in-law.

"One of the alleged victims, said she was raped by the accused person on August 21 at around 3am after she had been awakened by your daughter who is accused's wife to babysit her child, what would be your comment," Mr Mutandiro asked.

In response Anna said: "It is a total lie. She was never raped because my son-in-law was not in Vainona on that day," she said.

"Another thing, on that day she has mentioned, my daughter was still at the hospital after having given birth. So, which baby was she baby-sitting?" she said.

She added that on the day in question, by 3am she was already up and if her granddaughter was raped she could have heard her screams.

"Like I said before, I am a member of the Johane Masowe Wechishanu and everyday I do my morning prayers at 3am. So to say that she was raped at 3am, is a lie," she said.

When the rape victim testified, she told the court that after the sexual abuse, she rushed to her bedroom while bleeding and locked herself from inside before washing her clothes and blankets which had been spoiled by blood.

Mr Mutandiro asked Anna to comment on the statement and she said: "I will maintain that she is a liar because to start with, I shared the bedroom with my grandchildren and there was no key hence she could not have locked the door."

"She also did not wash any blankets because there were no soiled blankets. She did not leave the room during the night on that day," she said.

During cross-examination private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara accused Anna of testifying against her "grandchildren" because they were not from her biological son.

He also submitted that Anna gave two conflicting statements to the police. Anna said that her first statement was recorded on November 10, 2010 and the second one was recorded a week later.

Mr Warara asked Anna why she did not mention that the victim's father was her stepson in her statements.

"In the first statement you purported as if Richard was your biological son, why did you not tell the truth?

"You are biased because you do not have any relationship with the victim's father," Mr Warara said.

Anna confirmed that she was not in good books with her stepson whom she accused of neglecting his family after leaving the country many years ago. She said there was no communication between her and Richard.

Mr Warara discredited Anna's evidence saying it was fabricated.

He also accused her of being coached in a bid to exonerate Kereke.

The trial continues today.