Tapiwa Freddy Not Guilty Of Rape, Court Rules
The founder and leader of Goodness and Mercy Ministries, Tapiwa Freddy, has been acquitted of rape and physical abuse charges he was facing.
Freddy, a self-proclaimed prophet, was declared NOT guilty by Harare Regional Magistrate Gloria Takundwa.
In her ruling, Takundwa said the State failed to prove its case against Freddy after there were several inconsistencies in the testimony of the complainant.
Takundwa said the complainant departed from her material evidence which she gave to the police in her recorded statement.
The magistrate added that the complainant changed her story when giving evidence in court, while her aunt denied having been told of the second alleged rape.
Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com in a subsequent interview, Freddy’s lawyer, Jivas Mudimu, said that the whole case was flawed from the beginning. He said:
It was clear that there was no rape. It was clear from the word go that Freddy never raped the complainant and never physically abused her.
It was blackmailing and we are happy today that fair enough justice prevailed.
Freddy had been facing charges of raping and physically abusing a 33-year radio presenter who is physically challenged.
