Traditional healer facing charges of raping niece (9) claims he is impotent

By Tatenda Mabasa | Nehanda Mutare Bureau |

RUSAPE –A famous Rusape traditional healer – Ngoriyo Muhonde (66) – who is facing charges of raping his niece on Thursday left the court in stitches when he denied the allegations, arguing that he was impotent. He also alleged that two of his three wives had deserted him as a result of that.

Muhonde, who stays in Village 66, Mayo, is alleged to have raped his nine year-old niece in 2011. After deflowering the minor, the n’anga allegedly threatened her with death, emanating from his supernatural powers – if she divulged the crime to anyone.

The girl suffered in silence and only spilled the beans to Nyamazira Primary School headmaster, Mr Enock Chatiza in October 2012, after sexual abuse lessons. Mr Chatiza contacted the girl’s mother before reporting the incident to the police.

Muhonde’s trial opened on Monday before Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza. The suspect is denying the charges and has challenged the court to prove that he was sexually potent.

Muhonde is in custody and was expected back in the dock for judgment on Thursday. However, Thursday was declared a public holiday and Muhonde was expected to wait a little longer to hear his fate.

It was the State case led by Rusape area prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira that Muhonde called the victim into his bedroom and demand to fondle her breasts. The minor refused forcing the n’anga to drag her closer to him. He forced her to lie on the bed.

He then raped her once, said Mr Mutyasira.

“He then threatened her with death. He told the victim that he had natural powers that could cause her death if she revealed the rape to anyone. The girl suffered in silence and only opened up in October 2012 to her school headmaster, Mr Enock Chatiza, after lessons on sexual abuse,” Mr Mutyasira told the court.

Muhonde, who appeared in court as a self actor denied the allegations arguing that there was no way he would have raped the minor since he was impotent.

“Your worship, there is no way I could have done that since I am impotent. This was the reason why two of my three wives deserted me because I was no longer able to satisfy them sexually. I can prove that in this court that I am now sexually useless,” Muhonde told the court to a burst of laughter from the gallery.

He did not say how he would prove the impotency.

Mr Chatiza also testified in court, confirming having received a report from the victim to the effect that Muhonde had raped her.

“She told me about the abuse after we conducted some sexual abuse lessons which informed the minor girls of their rights. The lessons emphasized that such cases were punishable and must be reported. This is when the girl approached me and told me that the accused person had raped her.

“I asked why she had not reported the matter and she told me that she had been threatened by death through supernatural powers. I got hold of her mother and asked the girl to repeat the allegations before her, following which a report was made to the police,” said Mr Chatiza.

The girl’s mother testified and told the court that it was Mr Chatiza who informed her of the alleged rape. A medical examination done at Rusape General Hospital confirmed that the girl had been deflowered.