Harare – The rape trial of Musa Nyasha Dube Manyika, a business development manager, commenced in Harare yesterday, with the complainant providing a harrowing account of the alleged abuse. Manyika has pleaded not guilty to both counts of rape.
Manyika appeared before Harare regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni, where he is accused of raping a learner who was a beneficiary of a scholarship programme offered to underprivileged students.
In his defence, Manyika denied ever raping the complainant but told the court that there was a ‘mutual attraction’ between them and he engaged in consensual sexual activity.
He denied the first count which allegedly occurred in November 2022 stating that he never raped her as that was the very time that their ‘mutual attraction blossomed.’ He told the court that he would meet her on several occasions in and around Mt pleasant area and would visit her on campus at the University of Zimbabwe.
Manyika disputed the State’s claim that he told the complainant that he was in charge of scholarships neither did he threaten to remove her from the scheme after the alleged rape as alleged. He denied ever misleading the complainant that he would marry her as he is already married and it was just an extra marital affair.
Manyika further claimed that the allegations emanated from the fact that she had committed an offence at his workplace where she was now employed and was due for a disciplinary hearing.
The State, represented by Chido Gohori, presented evidence from the complainant, who testified that Manyika raped her on two separate occasions and threatened to remove her from the scholarship programme if she resisted his advances.
She told the court that he infected her with a sexually transmitted infection.
The complainant’s testimony painted a picture of a vulnerable student who was allegedly taken advantage of by a man in a position of power. She described the alleged incidents of rape in detail, recounting the fear and trauma she experienced.
Manyika’s defence hinges on the claim of consensual sexual activity, portraying the relationship as an extra-marital affair fueled by mutual attraction. He disputes the State’s allegations of threats and coercion, arguing that his interactions with the complainant were inconsistent with the behaviour of a rapist.
The trial promises to be a complex and emotionally charged affair, with conflicting accounts and serious allegations on both sides. The outcome will have significant implications for both Manyika and the complainant, as well as raising broader questions about the abuse of power and the protection of vulnerable individuals in Zimbabwean society.
The trial is set to resume on April 23rd, when further evidence will be presented and witnesses will be cross-examined. The court will then have the difficult task of weighing the evidence and determining the truth of the matter.
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