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Emmah Chinyamutangira Manicaland Correspondent
A 29-year-old Zimunya man has appeared in court for raping a 15-year-old girl and forcing her to marry him.

Chance Chiwongotere appeared before Mutare Magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo facing charges of rape.

He was remanded in custody to April 15 for trial.

The State alleges that sometime in October 2018, Chiwongotere went to Kafudza Village in Mt Darwin to visit the minor, whom he was in a relationship with.

He lied about taking her to her mother who had recently been employed in Harare.

The minor only realised that she had been duped as they were approaching Marondera but Chiwongotere told her that he wanted to deliver groceries to his mother in Mutare before proceeding to Harare.

The court heard that the two arrived at his homestead in Bedza Village later that evening and Chiwongotere introduced the complaint to his mother, Sarah Gwangwava, as his wife. Gwangwava threatened to use black magic on the girl if she refused to marry her son.

The following day, Chiwongotere dragged the minor to his bedroom and raped her. She screamed but no one rescued her since the door was locked from inside.

He raped her on several occasion until March 29 this year, when the matter came to light after Chiwongotere had taken the girl to his workplace in Burma Valley.

She told his employer her predicament who then apprehended Chiwongotere and took him to the police.