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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man accused of raping a 64- year-old wheelchair bound shebeen queen has been acquitted. Nobert Zingovo, 29, of Emganwini was found not guilty by regional magistrate Mark Dzira. He sprung from the dock and hugged his fellow inmates and shed tears of joy when Dzira handed his judgment.

In acquitting Zingovo,  Dzira noted that through cross examination, the alleged victim’s daughter-in-law had told the court that her mother-in-law and the man had known each other for a long time.

“From the evidence led, the victim’s daughter-in-law said Zingovo and his alleged victim would drink beer together till late hours and the two had known each other for years, calling each other with knicknames.  The victim could have raised alarm if indeed it was true that she was being raped.

“This court has concluded that there was consensual sex between the two.
“The victim could have freaked out when she realised that they had been caught in the act by her granddaughter hence she decided to fake rape. Under those circumstances, the accused is given a benefit of the doubt and accordingly is found not guilty and acquitted,” ruled Dzira.