By Panashe Karidzagundie
A 20-year-old man from Beitbridge has appeared before Magistrate Charity Maphosa facing rape charges involving a 14-year-old girl.
Simbarashe Moyo of Chapfuche Village under Chief Matibe is accused of raping a Grade Five pupil on February 18, 2026.
Prosector Mercy Nyathi said , the complainant, had gone to fetch water from a nearby well together with her siblings at around 6:30 pm.
While returning home, they allegedly met Moyo who was riding a bicycle and eating corn snacks.
He reportedly shared the snacks with the children and attempted to talk to the complainant, but she declined.
Nyathi alleged that Moyo followed the children from a distance to their homestead. After the complainant’s siblings went out to play, Nyathi says Moyo entered the house where the girl was preparing supper, covered her mouth and forced her into a room.
He allegedly removed both his trousers and the complainant’s clothes before raping her once without her consent.
The court heard that he then fled the scene after the incident.
The complainant initially did not report the matter but later complained of severe vaginal pain on February 23, prompting her father to question her. She then allegedly disclosed that Moyo had sexually assaulted her.
Her father took her to Nuli Clinic before the matter was reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police at Beitbridge Rural.
She was later referred to Beitbridge District Hospital for medical examination.
During trial commencement, Moyo pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape, through his lawyer, Jabulani Bongani Mzinyathi, Moyo admitted meeting the complainant and other children while riding his bicycle but denied following them home or engaging in any sexual act with the girl.
Mzinyathi argued that Moyo only shared snacks with the children and engaged in brief conversation before leaving, describing the allegations as “malicious fabrications.”
During her testimony, the complainant told the court that Moyo followed her home and later covered her mouth before forcing himself on her inside the house. She also told the court she was threatened with death if she revealed the incident.
Another witness, Nokutenda Madzise, confirmed that they met the accused on the road and that he gave them snacks. However, he told the court that, he did not witness the alleged rape and only learned about the incident days later.
The last witness, Alick Nyawana (37), testified that he only became aware of the alleged assault on February ,20 , 2026 after his niece raised concerns that the girl appeared unwell.
He later took his daughter for medical examination before reporting the matter to the police.
The trial was postpened to March 12, 2026 for defence