The Sunday News
A PROPHET from Binga District allegedly lured a fellow villager’s two wives to his shrine before raping them under the pretext of praying for them to avert unfortunate events that were to befall them and their husband.
Peter Mumpande (36) from Lusulu is alleged to have prophesied during church services that the women would be befallen by tragic events, which included an accident involving their husband who was away in Bulawayo or his arrest, before inviting them for “special prayers”.
Mumpande, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga on Friday said through his lawyer Mr Tonderai Mukuku of Marondedze, Mukuku and Partners Legal Practitioners, that the two women who are in a polygamous marriage appeared sex-starved since their husband was away from them for a very long time and always seduced him to have sexual intercourse with them.
“Your honour, the complainants’ husband was away in Bulawayo for a very long time and the two appeared to be sex-starved and they always enticed me to have sexual intercourse with them.
“I could not resist the temptation and hence we agreed with the complainants to have sexual intercourse,” said Mumpande.
He claimed that he had sexual intercourse with the first wife four times and the first time he gave her a bar of soap and a $5 note. He added that he did the same to the second wife and after the consensual act he gave her a black skirt and a $5 note.
“They did not tell their husband when he came home because the sexual intercourse was consensual.
“However, the two women decided to lie to their husband that I had raped them after I told them that I was going back to Bulawayo after staying with them for several months and they did not want me to leave them alone,” he said.
According to the State led by Mr Tawanda Sigauke, on an unknown date but sometime in July 2013 and at about 4pm, Mumpande and the first complainant were at a church gathering where he is a prophet, when he told the congregates that women who had husbands who were away should pray for them so they don’t encounter accidents or get arrested.
“The accused then called the complainant and told her to go into the bush and pray for her husband who was in Bulawayo.
“On the same day at around 10pm, she went into the bush and conducted some prayers as instructed by the accused,” said Mr Sigauke.
On an unknown date during the same month, the court heard that Mumpande asked her to show him the place where she conducted her prayers so that he could pray for her. They proceeded to the place and on arrival he asked her to kneel down while he splashed water on her face while pushing her to the ground until she fell facing upwards.
He allegedly then raped her once.
On an unknown date but sometime in August 2013 Mumpande allegedly struck again, this time on the second complainant after prophesying that unfortunate events would befall her.
He then arranged to meet her in the bush so he could conduct prayers for her and on the same day at 9pm the two met in the bush as agreed.
Mumpande then prayed for some water which was in a cup before splashing it onto her face.
He allegedly grabbed her, pushed her to the ground and raped her once.
He instructed her not to scream, saying it was the church’s secret method of prayer, the court was told.
However, the offence came to light when the two wives discussed the issue among themselves before reporting it to their husband who in turn notified the police, leading to Mumpande’s arrest.
The trial continues on 7 October with Mumpande proceeding with his defence outline.
