The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Post Correspondent —
Neville Mutsvangwa’s case which has been pending before the Mutare magistrates’ court has been withdrawn by the State, after the complainant refused to sign a sub-poena that was send to her.
The son of ousted war veterans’ minister, Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa, Neville Mutsvangwa, who was acquitted of rape charges in October this year was facing attempted rape, public indecency and criminal insult charges.
He however, has been set free after the complainant, Michelle Tserai refused to sign after being sub-poenered by the courts, being asked to attend court on December 1, 2016.
The matter was withdrawn before plea at the instance of the State by Mutare magistrate, Mrs Jessie Kufa. Mr Shepherd Chavarika represented the State.
Mutsvangwa was being charged with public indecency as defined in Section 77, criminal insult as defined in Section 95 and attempted rape as defined in Section 189 as read with Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
It had been alleged that Tserai and Mutsvangwa travelled to Vumba where they booked at Forest Hill Hotel last Friday, together with the complainant’s cousin, Thandeka Shumba.
It was further alleged that Mutsvangwa and Tserai slept on the bed, while Shumba slept on the floor.
“On October 29 and at around midday, while Tserai and Shumba were bathing in an ensuite bathroom, Mutsvangwa peeped through the partially closed door while the two were naked. The two caught him in the act,” said Mr Chavarika.
On the same day, Mutsvangwa is alleged to have pulled out his private parts and masturbated in the presence of Tserai and Shumba who then excused themselves to go and look for alternative accommodation leaving him alone in the room.
It was further alleged that when they came back to collect their bags after having found alternative accommodation at around 7.30pm, Mutsvangwa was already asleep.
Shumba collected the bags and went outside, leaving Tserai to wake Mutsvangwa up and tell him that they were moving out because he had masturbated in their presence.
Mr Chavarika alleged that when Mutsvangwa woke up, he begged Tserai to have sex with him, but she turned down his advances, resulting in him becoming violent and thereby grabbing her, removing her pants and tearing off her T-shirt. He went on to assault her several times all over her body.
After crying for help, Tserai was rescued by other hotel occupants and hotel staff, including the hotel manager, Mr Patrick Muponda who took her to the police station.
Mutsvangwa was in October acquitted by a Harare court of raping a 43-year-old woman at his father’s offices in Harare.
