A key State witness in the rape trial of Godfrey Nzira, the leader of the Johane Masowe weChishanu church, yesterday denied she had framed him because she owed him $17 150, borrowed from the churchs bank at the shrine in Chitungwiza.
Nzira, appearing before Harare regional magistrate Betty Makazhe, is alleged to have raped two women members of his sect, at the shrine on several occasions between February and May this year.
Under cross-examination by Wilson Manase, Nziras lawyer, the woman, a former teller with the churchs bank, admitted owing Nzira the money but accused Nzira of lying when he denied he raped her. Manase alleged she had not receipted a loan repayment of $1 083,40 from a client.
He said: Perhaps that is why you are levelling false allegations against Madzibaba Nzira.
She said she did not recall anything about that money. Manase said Nzira would deny ever threatening her and telling her that his security officers would monitor her movements.
The other alleged victim would come to court and deny that she was raped, Manase said.
The woman said: She may deny it but she said it herself.
In what has become their normal practice whenever Nzira comes to court, crowds of Nziras followers, mainly women, gathered at the court on Monday and yesterday but they were not allowed into the courtroom.
The woman told the court that she is scared of Nzira because he had threatened to kill her.
She said that on the occasions that he raped her she had tried to resist but he had overpowered her. She had not screamed or shouted for help because of the alleged death threats.
She said she had not told anyone, not even her husband.
She said: I was afraid my marriage would break up. I was concerned about my husbands reaction and the death threat. The main reason I did not report is I was afraid. Even now I fear for my life. She said she had finally told an elder of the church after another woman had alleged that Nzira raped her. Vivian Mandizvidza prosecuted.