A Harare regional court has convicted an Old Mutual business development manager of raping a University of Zimbabwe student who was interning at the financial services company.
Regional magistrate Bianca Chivasa delivered the verdict on Thursday after a full trial, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Musa Nyasha Dube Manyika was found guilty on two counts of rape and is expected to return to court for a pre-sentence hearing.
The complainant, a University of Zimbabwe student who was studying under an Old Mutual scholarship programme, had been placed at the company as an intern when the incidents occurred.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Chido Gohori, the first assault took place in November 2022. Manyika allegedly contacted the student via WhatsApp asking her to assist with packing promotional banners at the company’s offices at Old Mutual Gardens.
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He later collected her from the university campus and drove to the offices where, the court heard, he raped her in his office. After the incident, he allegedly apologised and handed her company-branded items before warning her not to report the matter, threatening that her scholarship could be withdrawn.
The court heard that a second assault occurred in June 2024. Manyika allegedly contacted the student again, saying he wanted to discuss her career prospects.
After meeting at Ashbrittle Shops, he offered to drive her home but diverted to a secluded area along Belfast Road, where he raped her again inside the vehicle.
He later dropped her off at home and apologised.
In her ruling, magistrate Chivasa said the evidence presented by the prosecution was credible and sufficient to secure a conviction on both counts.
Manyika now awaits sentencing, which will be determined after the court hears submissions during the pre-sentence proceedings.
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