Happymore Chidziva Acquitted of Rape Charges Involving Minor

Glen View South MP Happymore Chidziva was acquitted of rape charges involving a 16-year-old girl after the Harare magistrate found insufficient evidence for guilt. The case underlines challenges in prosecuting sexual assault allegations, particularly with minors.

HARARE – Happymore Chidziva, the Citizens Coalition for Change MP for Glen View South, was acquitted of rape charges on Tuesday. This follows an arrest last September after he was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl who is a relative of his wife. Harare magistrate Letwin Rwodzi ruled that the prosecution did not adequately prove Chidziva’s guilt in the case, leading to his acquittal.

The allegations against Chidziva included that in April 2024, he had asked the teenager to meet him at a location near Zanu PF Headquarters. The girl claimed she had waited for him for five hours and expressed her desire to go home. According to the charges, Chidziva claimed his car had broken down and requested her company to the Jameson Hotel to meet someone.

Prosecutors alleged that once at the hotel, Chidziva went to the bathroom and called the teenager to follow him, where he purportedly requested sex. She allegedly declined, saying she was not ready. Court documents stated the two then proceeded to his hotel room, where it was claimed he raped her, subsequently offering her US$25.

Following the incident, Chidziva reportedly sent a message to the teenager instructing her to buy morning-after pills. The girl communicated this to her cousin, disclosing that Chidziva had assaulted her. Later, in July 2024, accusations emerged that Chidziva had found work for the girl in Marimba and had taken her to a guesthouse in Waterfalls, where he allegedly raped her again.

The court also heard that on August 9, 2024, Chidziva contacted the girl again, asking her to meet him at Cresta Lodge. She took a taxi there, and they entered a room together. When he returned later in the evening, he allegedly urged her for sex, but she initially refused, claiming fatigue. Prosecutors asserted that he coerced her with promises of a job overseas, leading her to eventually comply.

Afterward, the teenager faced repercussions at her friend’s home for staying out overnight. She subsequently moved in with her cousin, but her aunt had already reported her as a missing person. The girl eventually approached police to report her experiences, catalyzing Chidziva’s arrest.

The court found that essential evidence had not been sufficiently presented by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which ultimately impacted the outcome of the case. This acquittal raises several questions regarding the handling of such sensitive cases in Zimbabwe, particularly those involving minors.

In summary, Glen View South MP Happymore Chidziva was acquitted of rape charges involving a 16-year-old relative. The magistrate determined that the National Prosecuting Authority’s evidence was inadequate to establish Chidziva’s guilt. Citing procedural and evidentiary shortcomings, the case has underscored the complexities surrounding legal proceedings in sexual assault cases, especially involving minors.

Original Source: www.zimlive.com