By Naledi Nyoni
MUTARE — Mutare regional magistrate Sekai Chiwundura has convicted two former Masasi High School learners for the rape of a 17-year-old schoolmate following a full trial.
Both teenage boys, aged 16 and 17 at the time of the attack, each received suspended 10-year prison sentences for rape, with an additional five years imposed for aggravated indecent assault.
During the trial, the boys pleaded not guilty. Represented by lawyers from the Justice for Children Trust, they claimed the encounter was consensual and denied exploiting the victim’s cognitive challenges.
Chiwundura suspended the entire 10-year rape sentence on the grounds that the offenders were juveniles at the time of the offence.
Originating in Marange, Manicaland Province, this case came to public attention in late September 2025, when Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed that two suspects had been taken into custody following the circulation of video material on social media platforms.
ZRP said in a statement that both the complainant and the suspects had been located.
Prior to the arrests, circulation of the video itself raised separate concerns after it emerged that the material had been shared by an individual who had initially reported the matter to school authorities.
The incident was reported to have occurred on 8 February 2025, when the defendants were aged 17 and 16.
Prosecutors led by Tom Nyatsura, told the court that the two students were walking home with the complainant — a 17 year old schoomate — after school at approximately 4pm when the incident took place in a secluded forested area.
Both teenage boys have since lodged an appeal at the Mutare High Court, arguing that the lower court misdirected itself and that the sentence was excessive.
Appeal is now pending before the Mutare High Court.
State has not indicated whether it will cross-appeal against the suspended sentence.
