Pharmacists in court for raping girlfriend

A Chiredzi-based pharmacist, Webster Khumbula (26) who was born in Chivhu has been dragged to Chivhu Magistrates Court facing a charge of raping his 33-year old girlfriend.

Khumbula who resides in the Munyati South Plots, Chivhu, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Solomon Jenya.
He argued that he was in love with the complainant and they had consensual sexual relations.

The complainant did not dispute the fact that she was in love with Khumbula but she said despite that she was raped three times.

The complainant, who was fuming, said, "I think the accused person did it to degrade my esteem in the society. For 33 years, I remained a virgin and I never expected to lose it in such a brutal way. I did not report the matter to the Police as soon as it happened because I was advised for an out of court settlement but I later realised that my boyfriend had wronged me by having forced sexual intercourse with me so in actual fact, he did not love me."

She said Khumbula had told her that he was sorry for the forced intercourse and would marry her.

It is alleged that on August 12 2015, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Khumbula phoned the complainant telling her to come to Mvuma where they met.

On their return to Chivhu, the two dropped just before town and used a dust road to reach town.

She said she was tired and needed to rest. While they were resting under a tree, the accused suddenly sat on her girlfriend's legs and forced her to lie down before raping her once.

The complainant screamed hoping that the accused would stop his actions but he did not.

After the act, they went to town but the complainant insisted on telling the accused that she was not happy about his actions.

That day, in the evening, the complainant then disclosed the matter to George Taruvinga, the accused's uncle, who stood as a State witness in court.
Taruvinga told the court that he was aware of the love relationship between Khumbula and the complainant. He said as a family, they had told the complainant that she could stay as a second wife to the accused if she so wished because he is married.

"I think the rape issue was just brought up because she was just bitter for losing her virginity to the accused person, whom she thought was not married," Taruvinga said.

The complainant told the court that she was also raped at Taruvinga's place where the accused told her that there was nothing to worry since there were marriage arrangements between them.

Magistrate Jenya remanded the case to February 2016.

Nicholas Mabvongodze prosecuted.