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A 20‑year‑old man from Harare has been charged with raping two women he claimed were lesbians. The case was heard before Harare Regional Magistrate Sandra Mupindu on 20 December 2025, when the accused allegedly took the first complainant into his bedroom, locked the door, and raped her. He later took a second woman into the same room and raped her as well. The accused denies the allegations and says the encounters were part of a challenge to prove the women’s sexual orientation.
The matter came to light in January 2026 when the mother of one of the complainants noticed her daughter’s stomach pain and took her to Damafalls Clinic in Ruwa. Medical staff confirmed the daughter was pregnant. The mother reported the incident to police on 4 February 2026. The accused is facing two counts of rape.
In a separate case, Kefas Maunganidze, a senior ZANU‑PF official, was accused of raping his 22‑year‑old stepdaughter. The alleged assault took place on 27 August 2026 at the family home. According to the State, Maunganidze entered the mother’s bedroom while on the phone, shouted at the victim, and then sexually assaulted her. The victim reported the incident to her sister, who alerted their parents and took her to Mabelreign Police Station. Maunganidze was arrested and granted US$500 bail.
Both cases have drawn attention to the vulnerability of women whose sexual orientation or family relationships are targeted. They also come amid a government review of the legal status of intersex people. A high‑level meeting in Harare brought together ministers, civil society representatives, and intersex community members to discuss the lack of legal recognition for intersex individuals and the challenges they face in obtaining identity documents, accessing health care, and participating in public life.
The Justice Ministry is expected to produce legal and policy recommendations following the research and consultations. The review follows a constitutional court challenge by seven applicants, including two minors, seeking recognition of intersex people as a distinct category under Zimbabwean law.
These cases highlight ongoing concerns about sexual violence and discrimination in Zimbabwe, where same‑sex relationships remain illegal and people perceived to be LGBTQ+ can face harassment, violence, and exclusion from services.
Article and image source: myzimbabwe.co.zw
