‘Sour grapes’ case thrown out

Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A pregnant teenager from Seke, Chitungwiza, was shamed yesterday for trying to use the courts to settle personal scores with her ex-boyfriend who had dumped her for another girl. Anna Tembo of Chitsvatsva Village, Seke, tried to convince the court that Collins Chimutuwa (32) had raped her sometime in May this year. However, when the matter was heard before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Estere Chivasa, Tembo deposed a withdrawal affidavit but to no avail.

Tembo said her family and that of Chimutuwa had agreed that the two needed to maintain cordial relations for the sake of the unborn baby. “I wish to withdraw the charges as I want to maintain an amicable relationship with the accused person,” said Tembo.

She said since Chimutuwa had accepted responsibility for the pregnancy, he was supposed to look after the child after its birth. In his defence, Chimutuwa had told the court that they were in a relationship and Tembo only fabricated the charges after he dumped her.

In her ruling, Ms Chivasa said this was a case of sour grapes. “This is a matter of ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’, and the complainant reported the rape as a bitter person because she dropped out of school after falling pregnant and was also dumped by the accused.

“She never reported the matter after the incident and continued staying with the accused as she had testified in court. Her relatives and those of the accused are engaged in a conversation, meaning she only tried to use the courts to settle her personal scores, yet the court cannot do that.

“This shows that she was not raped but had agreed to the sexual relationship because she even said that accused was not coming home, and this court will give the accused the benefit of the doubt and find him not guilty and acquitted. The complainant may take her case to the civil court after the accused fails to marry her,” ruled Ms Chivasa. Tembo had reported to the police that Chimutuwa raped her when she had gone to his shrine seeking spiritual help.

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