By Tarisai Machakaire
HARARE – Zanu PF legislator for Bikita West, Munyaradzi Kereke’s rape trial will resume in an open court on February 3 after the minor rape victims finished testifying in camera yesterday.
Kereke is appearing before Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa.
He denies charges of raping his wife’s two nieces and a further charge of indecent assault.
He is being represented by James Makiya and Nathaniel Chigoro.
The complainants were 15 and 10 at the alleged time of the offence, five years ago.
Private prosecutor Charles Warara alleged that on an unknown date in March 2010, the first complainant was sexually abused by Kereke after visiting her aunt at Kereke’s residence.
The complainant did not reveal the ordeal to anyone until August 23, 2010 when her younger sister confided in her that she had also been allegedly raped by Kereke.
The girl later told the first complainant the following day before advising other family members about the incident.
The matter was reported to the police on October 31 and the complainant was medically examined at Parirenyatwa Hospital on November 1, 2010.
Kereke has attempted to withdraw evidence confirming the girls were sexually molested.
His mission was doomed after the presiding magistrate dismissed his application to have the first complainant’s medical card discarded from the court record.
The medical record was obtained from Harare Central Hospital.
“Whether this document implicates the accused person or not is a determination that this court will have to make,” Mupeiwa ruled.
“The court already made a ruling and parties cannot be made to go back and revise their conduct simply because the defence seem to have perceived their errors.”
If convicted, Kereke faces a lengthy prison term of up to 20 years.
His lawyers argued that the card was not obtained at the State’s instance. Daily News
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