In a shocking breach of trust and community betrayal, a Rusape based church leader (27) lured a minor (13) after New Year’s Eve prayers and sexually abused her.
For this horrific incident, the church leader was brought before Rusape Magistrates’ Court and convicted to three years in prison.
According to court records, the church leader assaulted the victim in one of the rooms at their place of worship.
“He locked the door and sexually assaulted the victim.”The victim later disclosed the abuse and police report was filed.
“During trial, the court examined admissibility of the complaint of rape guided by the precedent in S v Nyirenda, which requires that such complaints be made voluntarily and without coercion,” said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
It stated that in this case, the victim’s disclosure was prompted by leading and intimidating questioning including pressure from her mother and she initially did not name the offender.
“Due to these circumstances, the Court ruled that the evidence did not meet the threshold of a rape conviction.
“However, the offender did not deny the abuse with the victim, claiming instead that it was consensual.
“The court emphasised that consent is legally irrelevant when the survivor is below the age of 18 and therefore returned a competent verdict of sexual assault with the victim.”
In a related incident, another Rusape man aged 27 will spend the next two years behind bars for engaging a relationship with a 15 year-old minor.
“The offender, who was employed at Sakarombe farm in Rusape, violated the victim who is grade seven learner on four separate occasions between December 2025 and January 2026.
“The matter came to light on 4 January 2026, when the minor eloped to the offender’s homestead, prompting her father to report the case to the police.”
NPA said the offender was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment of which 12 months were suspended for five years on the condition of good behaviour.
