Zanu PF MP Munyaradzi Kereke convicted of rape

Zanu-PF Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke has been found guilty of raping his wife’s 11-year-old niece in 2010. The businessman was however cleared of charges that he had also indecently assaulted her sister.

Kereke was sentenced to jail for 14 years.

Regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa however, suspended four years on condition of good behaviour, which means he will serve an effective 10 years behind bars.

According to the case outline by the private prosecutor, sometime in March 2010, Kereke was alone with the then 11-year-old girl, whom he grabbed by the waist and pushed onto the couch before fondling her breasts.

The girl allegedly screamed, but no one heard her. On August 22, 2010, the girl’s young sister was allegedly asked to baby sit by Kereke’s wife.

When the baby fell asleep, the girl sat on the couch in the bedroom and Kereke allegedly started fondling her. He allegedly pointed the gun at the girl and threatened to shoot her if she did not comply with his orders and raped her.

Suspended Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana had declined to prosecute prompting the victim’s guardian Francis Maramwidze to pursue a private prosecution. Tomana also tried to block a private prosecution before the matter headed to a constitutional showdown.

Tomana was eventually forced to grant a private prosecution but has since been suspended for defying a court order on this and other matters.