A man from Chivi has appeared in court accused of raping his 15-year-old girlfriend at a guest lodge in Mabelreign, Harare. Elson Tembo appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, charged with rape. The State alleges that sometime in December 2025, the teenager travelled to Mabelreign to spend the holidays with her aunt. On an […]
A man from Chivi has appeared in court accused of raping his 15-year-old girlfriend at a guest lodge in Mabelreign, Harare.
Elson Tembo appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, charged with rape.
The State alleges that sometime in December 2025, the teenager travelled to Mabelreign to spend the holidays with her aunt.
On an unspecified date, she allegedly met Tembo while on her way to buy bread at the shops. The two exchanged contacts and later started a relationship.
Tembo allegedly invited her to his workplace, and they met along Harare Drive before boarding a kombi to Mabelreign shops.
The court heard that Tembo bought her Doritos and a Revive drink before they walked to a guest lodge along 2nd Avenue in Mabelreign, where he was allegedly staying.
He allegedly collected keys to a room at reception before the two went inside.
After eating the snacks, the teenager allegedly developed a headache and told Tembo, who went to get her a glass of water. She is said to have become dizzy and later lost consciousness.
Prosecutors allege Tembo took advantage of her condition and raped her.
When she regained consciousness, she allegedly noticed some of her clothes had been removed and questioned Tembo about what had happened.
She later left the lodge and allegedly began experiencing pain in her back and lower abdomen.
According to the State, she contacted Tembo seeking an explanation, but he allegedly shouted at her and said he was not a prophet.
The teenager initially did not tell anyone about the alleged incident and later returned to Bulawayo.
The State alleges that after missing her periods for two months, she contacted Tembo as she suspected she had fallen pregnant as a result of the alleged rape.
He allegedly shouted at her and accused her of being a prostitute who wanted to waste his money.
She then told her aunt, who informed her parents, leading to a police report being made in Mabelreign.
The teenager was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for medical examination.
Police allegedly failed to locate Tembo and placed him on the wanted persons list.
A radio message was later sent to ZRP Chivi after police received information that he was working there, leading to his arrest on Tuesday.
More: H-Metro
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