A POPULAR Mutare socialite, who was this week acquitted of
raping his seven-year-old daughter, has blasted parents who use their children
to fight their matrimonial disputes, claiming he does not have hard feelings
against his former wife.
Rusape regional magistrate Livingstone Chipadze ruled in
the accused’s favour after the State failed to prove a prima facie case against
him.
Chipadze told the court that the mother of the complainant
had fabricated the rape charges and coaxed her daughter into filing the rape
charge after the relationship with the
socialite had broken down.
The socialite said there was evidence that the
seven-year-old complainant’s parents were going through serious matrimonial
problems.
In an interview with NewsDay Weekender, the popular Mutare
man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, said he was
happy that he had been cleared.
“I am happy that I have been acquitted of these rape
charges. I want to thank the justice system for setting me free. I was even
struggling to work for my family because of this issue.
I am concerned about parents who use their children to
fight their matrimonial challenges,” he said.
“This will obviously affect children in the long run.
Parents should find a way of solving their differences without involving their
children. I don’t have hard feelings with my former wife and I am not going to
sue her. I am leaving it to God. Now I want to focus on the best possible way
to raise my child.”
The magistrate said the complainant’s mother tried to
manipulate her maid through a pay raise so that she falsely testifies in court
against the accused.
“The complainant’s mother showed the court that she is
clearly a bitter person against the accused and in court did not dispute that
her own sister had, at one time, used or raised false allegations of rape
against her husband,” the magistrate said
The complainant’s mother was also discredited by the maid
as an alcoholic, who had attempted to manipulate her to falsely testify against
her former husband. Newsday
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