MDC-T Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda, who was arrested for allegedly drugging and raping a 17-year-old girl, is set to appear at the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court today.
RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR REPORTER
The officer commanding Victoria Falls police Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona yesterday confirmed that Sibanda would appear in court today.
“We are still conducting investigations. He will appear in court tomorrow (today). At the moment he is in police cells,” he said.
The charges reportedly emanated from a case in November 2013 when Sibanda allegedly offered the girl a drink laced with a drug which left her feeling drowsy and weak after he had offered her a lift.
Instead of taking the girl to her intended destination, Sibanda drove to a bushy area along Kazungula Road where he allegedly raped her without using protection.
The girl, who was studying at a Victoria Falls private college, almost failed to write her ‘O’ Level examinations after allegedly falling ill due to a sexually transmitted disease.
Her parents questioned her about her illness and she then revealed the alleged attack.
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But Sibanda allegedly persuaded the girl’s parents not to file a police report in return for money.
The girl’s father is a senior MDC-T member in Matabeleland North and a former MP.
Sources close to the case said Sibanda agreed to pay the girl’s parents an undisclosed amount of money in instalments of $200 per month on condition that the news did not get to his wife.
“However, when the news reached his wife, Sibanda refused to continue paying the money arguing that he had no reason to pay since his wife already knew about the matter,” the source said.
“His refusal to settle the balance irked the girl’s parents and Sibanda’s arrest became imminent because the girl’s father, who is a senior MDC-T member in the province was angry.”
