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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A 45-year-old self-styled prophet from Beitbridge was on Friday jailed for two years for raping a 15-year-old girl three times after telling her that sexual intercourse was the only way to cleanse her bad luck spell.

Raymond Hukuimwe of 2419, Dulibadzimu suburb in the border town, had been formally charged with rape when his trial opened before regional magistrate, Mr Joseph Maveza and was later convicted for having sexual intercourse with a minor. He was left with 18 months effective to serve after the magistrate conditionally suspended six months of the sentence for five years.

The prosecutor, Mr Johannes Tlou, told the court that on July 17 this year the juvenile approached Hukuimwe for cleansing of bad luck so that she would get a job.

He said the accused then took her to a bushy area near the road leading to Makhakavhule Cemetery and told her that they needed to have sexual intercourse so that the prayers would be effective and would in turn get the job.

The two had sexual intercourse once after which they went to Hukuimwe’s house for more prayers. She was then told by the accused to return on July 21 for another session of prayers and sex.

The court further heard that on July 21 the two had sexual intercourse two times at Hukuimwe’s house as a way of strengthening the said prayers. The offence came to light when the girl told her elder brother.

In a related incident a 33-year-old man from the same town was jailed by the same magistrate for an effective seven years for raping a 24-year-old mentally challenged woman. The facts are that on January 27 this year at around 8 am James Mhlongo whose address in Beitbridge was not given, but is from Chief Nhema area in Zaka, approached the complainant with the intention of having sexual intercourse.

The two were apprehended by other two men as they were about to engage in the act and were taken to the main police station in Beitbridge. Upon interrogation at the police station, Mhlongo revealed that he had had sexual intercourse with the woman twice and that he wanted to make the sessions three.