A HARARE regional magistrate has sentenced a business development manager to 15 years in prison for raping a University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student who was interning at the financial services company.
Regional magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni handed down the sentence yesterday after finding Musa Nyasha Dube Manyika guilty on two counts of rape following a full trial.
Mtombeni ruled that the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, saying the prosecution presented credible and consistent evidence that supported the complainant’s testimony.
The complainant, a UZ student on a scholarship programme sponsored by the financial institution, was attached to the company as an intern when the incidents occurred.
According to the State, the first assault occurred in November 2022 after Manyika contacted the student via WhatsApp, asking her to assist with packing promotional banners at the company’s offices.
He later collected her from the university campus and drove to company premises where, the court heard, he raped her in his office.
After the incident, Manyika allegedly apologised and gave the student company-branded items before warning her not to report the matter, threatening that her scholarship can be withdrawn.
The court heard that a second assault took place in June 2024.
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Manyika allegedly contacted the student again, claiming he wanted to discuss her career prospects.
The pair met at Ashbrittle shops before he offered to drive her home, but instead diverted to a secluded area along Belfast Road, where he raped her again inside the vehicle.
He later dropped her off at her residence and apologised, the court heard.
The matter was later reported to the police, leading to Manyika’s arrest and subsequent conviction.
