A 49-year-old woman from Binga appeared before the Hwange Magistrates’ Court facing charges of rape or, alternatively, procuring under Section 83 of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act, Chapter 9:23.
The woman is accused of facilitating the rape of her younger sister by her husband.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in August 2018, the accused invited her sister to stay with her in Gwanda, promising to enrol her in school.
In October 2018, the accused left for Binga, leaving her sister alone with her husband. The sister never attended school during this time.
When the complainant inquired about her schooling, her brother-in-law claimed that he had been cheated on by his wife and that the accused had agreed to offer her sister as compensation for not bearing children.
From October to November 2018, the husband allegedly had non-consensual sexual intercourse with the complainant multiple times.
Upon the accused’s return to Gwanda, the husband continued to assault the complainant in her presence.
The accused reportedly gave the complainant a red concoction to drink after these encounters. In August 2021, the complainant attempted to escape but was caught and returned, with threats issued against her life.
She ultimately managed to flee later that month and informed her parents about her situation, but no action was taken. The complainant filed a police report on June 17, 2024, in Bulawayo.
The accused appeared before the Hwange Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to October 4, 2024.
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