A GWANDA man appeared at the Gwanda Regional Court yesterday facing a charge of allegedly raping a 27-year-old hearing impaired and hard of speech woman.
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Gift Nyathi (54) of Ntalale area under Chief Mathe in Gwanda appeared before regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza, who remanded him in custody to September 23.
Nyathi pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Khumbulani Nyoni, for the State, told the court that on February 23 at around 7pm, Nyathi was seated along a footpath when the complainant walked by on her way from work.
As she was passing, Nyathi allegedly grabbed her by the hand and dragged her into a nearby bush and raped her.
Nyathi then left the victim, who went home crying and narrated her ordeal to her mother.
The two then went to her workplace the next day where a workmate was able to identify Nyathi after the complainant identified colours of the clothes he was wearing and the matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
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In his defence, Nyathi argued that the two were lovers and had consensual sex on the day in question.
Nyathi said the complainant fabricated the rape charge after he refused to give her money.
Nyathi accused the victim’s mother and investigating officer of lacking sign language skills and failing to understand the complainant.
A sign language expert was called to interpret the victim’s claims and indicated that she was raped by Nyathi.
Nyathi was, however, unimpressed with the interpretation.
“Your worship as you can see even the sign language interpreter is failing to understand the complainant,” Nyathi said.
Mabeza then challenged Nyathi to communicate with the complainant since he claimed they were lovers.
“You said you are in love, communicate with her and prove to us that indeed you were lovers,” Mabeza said.
“I won’t,” Nyathi replied.
