Woman claims she was raped by visiting friend

Michael Mashiri

A woman has taken her friend to court, claiming he raped her during a visit and she fell pregnant.

Harrison Sabimana, 29, of Mbare, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei, at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with rape.

He was ordered to deposit US$50 bail and will appear in court on January 17.

The complainant in this matter is a 24-year-old woman.

The State, through prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleges that on May 28, 2022, at around 1900 hours, Sabimana, called the complainant telling her that he was in Budiriro and wanted to visit her.

She gave Sabimana directions to her location and went on to picked him at the bus stop.

She then led him to her house.

When they arrived, the complainant took Sabimana into her room and asked him to sit on her bed.

Sabimana had brought chips with him so he asked the complainant to join him.

The complainant told him that she had just eaten sadza before he came in, but he insisted until the complainant picked a few chips and ate.

Sabimana stood up and sat close to the complainant and began to fondle her breast.

The complainant told him that she was not interested, she began to feel dizzy at that moment and she just fell asleep.

It is alleged that she woke up at around 0500 hours and was still feeling dizzy but she had no pant.

Sabimana was sleeping beside her wearing a vest and a short.

She asked what had happened and Sabimana told her that nothing had happened.

Sabimana allegedly put on his clothes and the complainant accompanied him to the bus stop.

On her way to the bus stop, she felt that her private part had some pain as if she had sex.

Sabimana kept on denying that he had sexual intercourse with her.

He allegedly went and later called checking on her and she told him she was fine.

On July 23, 2023, the complainant realised that she was pregnant and she approached Sabimana but he denied responsibility and having had sexual intercourse with her.

On December 7, 2023, she filed a report and investigations were done, leading to the arrest of Sabimana.