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This collage shows RMG Independent End Time Message founder Robert Martin Gumbura and his lawyer Ms Rekai Maposa during the court inspection in loco at his Marlborough, Harare, home yesterday, Gumbura in his master bedroom and orphans under the accused’s care relaxing in their room. – (Pictures by Innocent Makawa and Ruvimbo Chakanyuka)

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate yesterday indefinitely postponed judgment in the case in which RMG Independent End Time Message leader Pastor Martin Gumbura is accused of raping seven women from his church. Judgment was initially due yesterday, but regional magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya deferred the matter to today after the court decided to conduct an inspection of Gumbura’s house at Number 6 Helena Close in Marlborough, Harare.

Hundreds of people thronged the Harare Magistrates’ Courts in anticipation of the verdict and the gallery was packed resulting in many people being barred from entering the building.

One of the gates at Gumbura’s house

Following the inspection in-loco, the matter is now expected to continue today with investigating officers Chief Superintendent Ndabezinhle Moyo and Detective Inspector Tapiwa Madakuchekwa undergoing cross-examination before judgment is delivered on a date yet to be set.

Also present for the indications were prosecutors Mr Jonathan Murombedzi and Mrs Kudzai Chigwedere, defence lawyers Mrs Rekai Maposa and Mr Emmanuel Samundombe, police officers, prison guards and journalists.

On arriving at Gumbura’s house, one is welcomed by a high precast security wall measuring about three metres high.
There are massive gates with spikes on top at three entrances.

The gates are three metres high and 5,4 metres in length.
Inside the yard, there are seven separate buildings which are referred to by names such as Chisipite, Rose, Kaze and Borrowdale; including a double-storey building still under construction.

Pastor Gumbura in one of his bedrooms

The double-storey house has 25 en-suite bedrooms and four lounges.
Gumbura, who was clad in prison garb, said the buildings were named for easy identification.

A church building in the huge yard is being extended because, as Gumbura explained, it had become too small for his congregation.
More than 20 cars -including top-of-the-range makes like a Range Rover, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Fortuner -were parked inside the yard.

Inside the main house, which has exquisite furniture in most of the rooms, Chief Supt Moyo and Det Insp Madakuchekwa made indications for the court, giving an account of how they carried out their searches and investigations at the time of Gumbura’s arrest.

In the master bedroom, Chief Supt Moyo showed where he recovered allegedly pornographic material and Gumbura’s sexual enhancement drugs.

Gumbura did not deny possessing the pornographic DVDs, saying they had been surrendered to him by repentant church members.
He said the materials were in transit to his storeroom where they would be kept before being destroyed.

He led the way to the store- room and explained to the court that all “ungodly” materials that were surrendered by new believers were kept there before they are burnt.

“The burnings are not done all the time, we only do that in April, August and December.
“The furniture that is also stored here (sofas, chairs and refrigerators) is meant to be given away to the less privileged,” Gumbura said.
The court had sight of some of the rooms in which the complainants were allegedly raped.

Gumbura said it was impossible for the women to have screamed without being heard since there were always many people at his house, including other church members and builders.

He added that it was also impossible for him to have raped someone in the lounges near the kitchen where his family gathered for supper.
Gumbura also took the court to other gates which he said were always open and the complainants could have easily used to flee the alleged abuse.

Some of the complainants have said they could not run away from Gumbura’s house because the gates were always locked and manned by security guards.

During yesterday’s indications, Gumbura maintained the women did not run away because they were in love and sexual intercourse was by consent.

One of the lounges at Gumbura’s mansion

On the other hand, the State maintained that it was impossible for the women to escape due to the height of the security wall.
The matter continues today.