Family demands $1,000 to withdraw rape charge

CASH
Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter—

A BULAWAYO family’s attempt to extort $1,000 from a tenant they falsely accused of raping their daughter backfired yesterday when a magistrate acquitted the man. A family member allegedly caught Wellington Kambarami, 36, who is married, having sex with their daughter, Charity Tshuma, 19. The family, from Woodville suburb claimed Kambarami had raped the girl and reported him to the police.

They later withdrew the case after Kambarami signed an agreement making an undertaking to pay the family $1,000.

The family later decided to have Kambarami prosecuted after he paid $600 and failed to raise the remainder.

Kambarami yesterday told senior regional magistrate Trynos Utahwashe that he had consensual sex with Tshuma.

He produced pictures and a video to prove he was in a relationship with her.

Tshuma produced torn panties and a blouse as exhibits to prove she was raped.

Kambarami said, “We fell in love in April and during the same month we had consensual sex inside a room I was renting at the family’s house in Woodville. On April 25 while we were having sex, her brother knocked at my door and she jumped out of the room through a window,” he said.

He said Tshuma told her mother that she was raped after her brother told their parents that he had seen her jumping from the room naked through the window.

“Her parents then demanded $1,000 from me and I promised that I would pay the following week. Her mother then made a police report and I was arrested. I’ve pictures of us in positions suggesting intimacy to prove our relationship,” he said.

The Chronicle is in possession of a document signed by the parents who received $600 from Kambarami as part payment of an out of court settlement.

“The case of rape having been reported to Queens Park ZRP offices is hereby withdrawn by Charity Tshuma with the consent of her parents upon receipt of $600 as payment of an out of court settlement. Balance of $400 to be paid,” read the document which was signed by Tshuma’s parents.

Magistrate Utahwashe said he was angry because Tshuma wasted the court’s time by still insisting she did not know Kambarami even after he produced pictures.

“The courts have no time to deal with such dead cases and the State must ensure that we do not waste time deliberating on such. The evidence before the court clearly shows there was consent.

“Kambarami if convicted was going to spend about 20 years in prison for something he didn’t do,” he said.

“This girl was supposed to be honest with her parents and confess that she was sleeping with the accused,” said Utahwashe.

He found Kambarami not guilty and acquitted him.

Tshuma’s mother however could not stomach the ruling and approached the prosecutor Robin Mukura alleging that Kambarami had artificially created the pictures to buy his freedom.

Mukura was alleging that on April 25 at around 9PM, Tshuma was preparing food on the fire outside their house as there was no electricity.

“After cooking, she proceeded to her room and on her way she met Kambarami in the corridor. He got hold of her and forced her into his room,” said Mukura.

He said when they got into the room, Kambarami undressed her.

“He raped her once using a condom. Tshuma’s brother knocked and Kambarami forced Tshuma to leave the room through the window,” alleged the prosecutor.

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