‘Prophet' Muted Woman’s Voice While He Raped Her
40-year-old man from Chikanga, Mutare, Tendai Chikowore was arraigned before the Mutare Magistrates Court facing rape charges.
On the 6th of July 2024, the complainant (31) went to the accused person's shrine seeking spiritual guidance.
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She was told that she needed cleansing and she was given some water to bath. She was further instructed to to rub her body with some ashes in a nearby bush.
While applying the ashes in the bush, the accused person suddenly appeared pushed the complainant down. She fell down facing upwards, after which he raped her once.
‘Prophet' Muted Woman’s Voice While He Raped Her
The complainant tried to scream for help and the accused person “ordered complainant's voice to mute and she lost her voice”.
After the act, the accused told the complainant that she should not argue with the Holy Spirit and also that she needed to be cleansed with holy water to get her voice back.
The complainant could still not speak when she made a police report, she wrote her ordeal on a piece of paper.
After his arrest, the accused person performed some rituals for the complainant to regain her voice.
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The accused person was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, of which 3 years were suspended. He will serve an effective 17 years in prison.
Cases of women being assaulted at shrines by pseudo-prophets are on the rise. We urge women who visit these shrines to go with a companion.
