Bulawayo – A case of alleged gang rape in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province, has taken an unexpected turn, with the alleged victim refusing a US$40 cash settlement and demanding a goat as compensation, B-Metro has reported.
The 40-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld for legal reasons, claims she was gang-raped while unconscious after consuming home-brewed beer with four men at a homestead in Magadla Village. She alleges that she woke up the next morning naked, with what appeared to be semen around her private parts, and sleeping next to one of the alleged perpetrators.
The alleged incident came to light when two of the accused men, Lucky Ncube (21) and David Ndlovu, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga facing rape charges. However, they were acquitted, with the court citing insufficient evidence for a conviction. Another accused, Musawakhe Mthunzi (21), who was released on bail, later died while out of custody. The fourth suspect, Ignatius Tshuma, remains at large.
The woman’s demand for a goat as compensation stems from her belief that it is essential for a cleansing ceremony, a traditional ritual designed to restore her dignity and purity following the traumatic ordeal.
“According to my cultural beliefs, the goat is essential for a cleansing ceremony,” she explained.
The alleged incident unfolded on a night of heavy drinking at Japhet Mthunzi’s residence in Magadla Village. The woman joined the group, consuming home-brewed beer until she passed out. Ndlovu, who had initially left the group, allegedly returned later that night.
The following morning, the woman awoke to find herself naked and in close proximity to Ndlovu, who was also naked. Ndlovu, according to the woman’s testimony, implicated Tshuma and Musawakhe, claiming they had taken turns raping her while she was unconscious.
The truth of the events that night, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty. The community elders confronted the suspects, leading to the US$40 settlement offer. However, the woman’s refusal and her insistence on a goat as compensation have raised questions about her motives and potential involvement in the alleged crime.
“Her request for a goat as compensation for the alleged rape also raised questions about her motives and potential involvement in the alleged crime,” noted a Bulawayo legal expert, Lee Khumalo, highlighting the complexities of the case.
