Teacher breaks down in court during colleague's rape trial

A high school teacher broke down in tears while giving evidence in a Bulawayo court on Tuesday during the trial of a fellow teacher accused of raping her on two occasions.

The emotional testimony prompted the courtroom to be cleared as the complainant became distressed during cross-examination. Presiding magistrate Sobonginkosi Mkandla temporarily adjourned proceedings to allow her time to compose herself.

The accused, whose identity cannot be disclosed in order to protect the identity of the complainant, is facing two counts of rape. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Defence lawyer Constance Mathaba told the court that the sexual encounters were consensual and formed part of an ongoing romantic relationship between the two colleagues.

According to the defence, the pair initially became friends before entering into what was described as a love relationship.

"At first, the accused and the complainant were friends. After a while, their friendship developed into a love affair. They would kiss and cuddle each other, and they engaged in consensual sex," Mathaba told the court.

The defence further alleged that the complainant had disclosed during the relationship that she was married to a man living in South Africa, while the accused had told her he was also involved in a relationship with the school's receptionist.

Mathaba argued that the complainant regularly invited the accused to her room.

"She seduced him and they had consensual sex. They would spend the entire night together. To prove that she was never raped, she never screamed," she submitted.

The defence also contended that the allegations only surfaced after the accused's former girlfriend confronted the complainant, arguing that the rape complaint was made about a week later.

Giving evidence, however, the complainant rejected the defence's version of events and denied ever having had a consensual sexual relationship with the accused.

"I have never slept with anyone. At our church, they don't allow congregants to engage in sex before marriage. I'm a virgin," she told the court.

The complainant became visibly emotional during cross-examination after the defence challenged her evidence regarding her sexual history and referred to WhatsApp messages allegedly exchanged between her and the accused.

Mathaba told the court that one of the messages allegedly referred to the accused bringing a condom, failing which he would become a "baby daddy."

State prosecutor Charmaine Mutapi alleged that the incidents occurred in August last year at teachers' accommodation at a school in Matabeleland North.

According to the State, on 11 August the accused knocked on the complainant's window and told her he wanted to retrieve an item from her room.

The complainant allegedly allowed him inside before returning to bed, after which the accused allegedly raped her before leaving for his own quarters.

The prosecution further alleges that the accused returned the following morning at around 5am, entered the complainant's room while she was asleep and sexually assaulted her a second time.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the accused's arrest.

The trial was postponed to 3 July 2026 for continuation.