The trial of Innocent Kakarahwa, a 50-year-old man from New Magwegwe, Bulawayo, accused of unlawful detention and sexual assault of teenage girls, began on Friday at Western Commonage Court.
Kakarahwa faces two counts of kidnapping and unlawful detention, under Section 93 (1) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23, as well as a charge of sexual assault.
He has denied the kidnapping and unlawful detention charges but has admitted to the sexual assault charge.
He appeared before Magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze and was remanded out of custody.
During the hearing, the State presented evidence from two 14-year-old victims, who testified through the Victim Friendly Unit.
The victims said they first met Kakarahwa when they asked him for a lift to Konron supermarket while visiting friends. During the journey, he inquired about their occupations, and they falsely claimed to be 16 and 19 years old. They told him that one was a baker, while the other specialized in beauty therapy.
โKakarahwa then said he wanted to order a cake, and we told him it was $25,โ one of the victims said.
โHe then asked if we needed a place to work from, but we told him it was not convenient for us to work here and that we would rather relocate to Harare,โ they added.
The victims said Kakarahwa exchanged phone numbers with them, dialled them to verify, and later continued communicating via phone.
On December 2, they skipped school, packed their bags, and waited for Kakarahwa, who had promised to take them to Harare. However, he repeatedly delayed their departure, citing financial constraints.
โAt 1 pm, we called asking about his whereabouts, and he said he was coming. At 2 pm, we called again, but his phone was off. At 3 pm, we managed to get through, and he said he was still looking for money for our trip to Harare. He then asked us to give him 30 minutes,โ they testified.
At 5 pm, they were about to give up and return home, thinking Kakarahwa was no longer coming, but he then called, saying he was on his way.
Later that evening, they met Kakarahwa, who was with his son. His son was dropped off elsewhere before they proceeded to fuel station in Pelandaba, where he picked up a friend.
โHe introduced one of us as his wife and the other as his sister-in-law. The friend said, โNice to meet you guys,โโ the victims said.
They then went to his brotherโs house to pick up blankets. When they asked if they were still going to Harare, Kakarahwa said they would leave the next morning.
The victims said they spent four days in a room in Donnington, describing the location as a busy area with no locked doors.
During cross-examination, Kakarahwaโs lawyer, Shepherd Chingarande of Sansole and Senda Legal Practitioners, questioned why the victims had changed out of their school uniforms.
โOne of us lived close to the school, and the school authorities didnโt want anyone loitering in uniform,โ they responded.
When asked why they lied about their ages, they said, โWe wanted to see Kakarahwaโs reaction.โ
Prosecutor Milton Moyo told the court that on December 2 at around 8 pm, Kakarahwa picked up the victims from Konron supermarket , promising them jobs in Harare. However, instead of travelling, he took them to a one-room dwelling at Call Out Investments Compound in Donnington West, where he kept them for three days.
โThe accused person diverted the route and took the complainantโs daughter to a one-room dwelling in Call Out Investments Compound, Donnington West, where he kept her for three days before driving her to City Hall and leaving her there,โ said Moyo.
The case came to light after a missing personโs report was filed, and the victim later narrated her ordeal to the police.
The trial continues on 4 March 2025.
