Lobels Biscuits boss acquitted of rape

Zim Now Writer

Lobel's Biscuits Company chief operations officer, Andrew Dinhidza, has been acquitted of all the 10 counts of rape and aggravated sexual assault by Bulawayo Magistrate Joseph Mabeza.

The court case unfolded when several women, who were either current or former employees of the confectioner, came forward, alleging that Dinhidza had subjected them to sexual assault in his office, his vehicle, and various lodges across Bulawayo.

Some of the former employees had either resigned or had been terminated from their positions.

Magistrate Mabeza said the charges were steeped in malice and born out of a sinister conspiracy to bring down the accused.

Shedding light on the verdict, Magistrate Mabeza remarked: “The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining that the allegations against him were false and concocted out of malice, fuelled by personal vendettas following the complainants’ dismissal from the company.”

The court also expressed doubts regarding the authenticity of the events that transpired at Lobel's with Dinhidza arguing that the timing and manner in which the alleged offences were reported pointed to a fabricated conspiracy.

Magistrate Mabeza, as a result, concluded: “The court remains in doubt as to whether these events truly occurred or whether they were part of a meticulously orchestrated scheme. Consequently, the accused is hereby declared not guilty of all charges pertaining to rape and aggravated indecent assault.”

One of the allegations against Dinhidza was an incident that allegedly occurred in May 2020 when he reportedly called one of the complainants into his office, enticing her with promises of a permanent employment contract if she agreed to sleep with him.

The woman reluctantly agreed but Dinhidza allegedly reneged on his promise, leaving the complainant still in the position of contract worker.

Another related to a woman whose husband had his employment with the company was terminated under unclear circumstances in 2013. The woman approached Dinhidza, who was human resources manager at the time, pleading for her husband’s reinstatement.

Dinhidza reportedly demanded to have sex with the woman, who agreed and her husband was reinstated the following day.