News / Local
Black empowerment activist rapes daughter, murders pregnant wife
02 Feb 2014 at 14:32hrs | Views
BULAWAYO - Judgment day for black empowerment activist Sonny Chasi who is being charged with the murder of his pregnant wife and raping his daughter six times has been set by the courts for February 19.
The case, which according to press statements was postponed twice because of a shortage of judges at the High Court, will bring closure to a saga that had captured the imagination of members of the public and gender activists.
The 73-year-old is on trial at the High Court facing allegations of murdering his wife Dorcas Majola and raping his daughter.
Chasi was sentenced to seven years and served four years in jail for fraud.
In July 2012, he was released on home leave from Connemara Open Prison after which he went to his Waterford home only to discover that his wife Dorcas Majola was four months pregnant from another man.
This resulted in a conflict and Majola fled their home.
Chasi went back to prison and was released in November 2 after serving his jail term.
He traced Majola to her new home in Lobengula but his children denied him entry until he went to liaise with police to be granted entry.
It is alleged that when he gained entry, he demanded to know who was responsible for Majola's pregnancy, leading to a fight.
On November 15, Chasi went to her workplace at a city hotel and picked her up after which the two went for HIV/Aids tests.
Later that night, he took her to an unknown destination where he fatally assaulted her. He then carried her body to the corner of 4th Avenue and Lawley Road.
Helater called the police claiming that he and his wife had been mugged by four robbers and he did not know where she was.
Police handled the matter and Majola was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she died from injuries she had sustained.
A post-mortem revealed that Majola had suffered a ruptured placenta, meaning excess force was used to attack her on the stomach.
Chasi was later arrested pending police investigations.
For the rape charge, it is alleged that in December 2008 Majola went to her rural home leaving the children with Chasi.
Taking advantage of the situation, Chasi made his daughter bath in a bucket with water mixed with his semen for ritual purposes.
He asked her to undress and bend facing all four cardinal points after which he raped her.
Chasi went on to rape her on five other different occasions claiming the rituals would increase his wealth.
The girl, who was 12 years then, approached her teacher and informed her about the sexual abuse.
Citing his final submissions, prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudi said there was no doubt that Chasi had committed the crime because of the overwhelming evidence.
He said the accused is also lucky not to be charged with rape as he also raped his wife.
"When he took Majola for an HIV test, it is quite clear that his intention was to have sex with her.
"That is why he lied saying the four men raped her," Mabhaudi said.
The case, which according to press statements was postponed twice because of a shortage of judges at the High Court, will bring closure to a saga that had captured the imagination of members of the public and gender activists.
The 73-year-old is on trial at the High Court facing allegations of murdering his wife Dorcas Majola and raping his daughter.
Chasi was sentenced to seven years and served four years in jail for fraud.
In July 2012, he was released on home leave from Connemara Open Prison after which he went to his Waterford home only to discover that his wife Dorcas Majola was four months pregnant from another man.
This resulted in a conflict and Majola fled their home.
Chasi went back to prison and was released in November 2 after serving his jail term.
He traced Majola to her new home in Lobengula but his children denied him entry until he went to liaise with police to be granted entry.
It is alleged that when he gained entry, he demanded to know who was responsible for Majola's pregnancy, leading to a fight.
On November 15, Chasi went to her workplace at a city hotel and picked her up after which the two went for HIV/Aids tests.
Later that night, he took her to an unknown destination where he fatally assaulted her. He then carried her body to the corner of 4th Avenue and Lawley Road.
Helater called the police claiming that he and his wife had been mugged by four robbers and he did not know where she was.
A post-mortem revealed that Majola had suffered a ruptured placenta, meaning excess force was used to attack her on the stomach.
Chasi was later arrested pending police investigations.
For the rape charge, it is alleged that in December 2008 Majola went to her rural home leaving the children with Chasi.
Taking advantage of the situation, Chasi made his daughter bath in a bucket with water mixed with his semen for ritual purposes.
He asked her to undress and bend facing all four cardinal points after which he raped her.
Chasi went on to rape her on five other different occasions claiming the rituals would increase his wealth.
The girl, who was 12 years then, approached her teacher and informed her about the sexual abuse.
Citing his final submissions, prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudi said there was no doubt that Chasi had committed the crime because of the overwhelming evidence.
He said the accused is also lucky not to be charged with rape as he also raped his wife.
"When he took Majola for an HIV test, it is quite clear that his intention was to have sex with her.
"That is why he lied saying the four men raped her," Mabhaudi said.
Source - Daily News
