Madzibaba Ishmael Named Father, But Mother Says It’s All A Lie!
The trial of Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa began in the capital. The first accuser, who was 14 years old when she became pregnant and gave birth, denied ever having sexual relations with the leader of the apostolic sect.
In court, she identified Tinashe as the father of her child.
The DNA results show that Madzibaba Ishmael is the biological father of her child, but she disputes this, claiming that she had sexual relations with just a man named Tinashe.
Members of the Johane Masowe eChishanu Gorejena Penyeranyika Sect, all of whom were fourteen years old when the incident occurred, lodged the complaints.
Lily Farm in Nyabira was their former home.
Using his position of authority and influence, Madzibaba Ishmael allegedly raped the first complainant between February of last year and March 12 of this year.
When word got out about the horrible crimes in March of this year, it prompted authorities to launch an investigation.
The woman allegedly became aggressive during the questioning because the church indoctrination promotes married male congregants to have sex with underage girls. She was rescued in Mufakose at a safe house.
Before magistrate Estere Chivasa, Madzibaba Ishamel entered a not guilty plea to all three charges of rape.
Musindo Hungwe is representing him.
In court, Madzibaba Ishmael stated that none of the three accusers had ever knowingly and willingly filed a sexual assault charge against him.
He maintained that the three accusations could not have led to a legitimate prosecution or conviction since they were not based on a valid criminal complaint.
What does his fence line say?
Presuming a criminal complaint had been filed against him (which is denied), the complainants failed to notify the initial point of contact at the earliest possible opportunity.
He denies that any of the three purported complainants ever accused him, as far as he is aware.
“In fact, they specifically name other people, separate from him, as the ones they had sexual relations with, excluding him,” portions of the defence outline read.
The State, he said, was engaging in a witch-hunt, he said.
Since the complainants had identified the individuals responsible for their pregnancies, he stated that the medical evidence of penetration is immaterial.
The second victim, who gave birth to a son in 2022, was allegedly raped between 2018 and the beginning of this year, according to the state.
A third woman gave birth to a son in 2020 and is now claiming that she was a victim of sexual assault somewhere in the first quarter of this year.
The State asserts that Chokurongerwa was found to be the biological father of the child after a DNA test was administered to him and all of the children at the National University of Science and Technology.
The certificates of DNA paternity testing are currently in the possession of the court and will be offered as evidence in the trial.
On behalf of the state, Oscar Madhume and Chido Gohori were present.
