Madzibaba ‘mutes’ woman’s voice before raping her

A 40-year-old madzibaba who ‘muted’ a woman’s voice using his spiritual powers before raping her has been jailed for 17 years effective.

The man from Chikanga, Mutare, Tendai Chikowore was arraigned before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court facing rape charges.

The magistrate, initially slapped him with 20 years imprisonment, of which 3 years were suspended.

He will serve 17 years effective.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), had it that on July 6, this year,  the complainant (31) went to the accused person’s shrine seeking spiritual guidance.

She was told that she needed cleansing and she was given some water to bath.

It was further that she was instructed to rub her body with some ashes in a nearby bush.

While applying the ashes in the bush, Tendai suddenly appeared before pushing the complainant down.

She fell facing upwards, after which he raped her once.

The complainant tried to scream for help and he “ordered complainant’s voice to mute and she lost her voice”.

After the act, he 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.