Businessman Accused of R@p*ng Wife’s Sister
Shocking and harrowing details have surfaced in a court case involving Ishmael Matyenyika, a businessman accused of repeatedly rap3ng and sexually assaulting a young woman over a span of 17 years, starting when she was just 11 years old. The victim, now 25, alleges that Matyenyika forced her to undergo abortions twice during this period.
Matyenyika, 47, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Themba Kuwanda facing charges of two counts of rape and aggravated indecent assault. He adamantly denied the accusations, instead claiming that he had been in a consensual romantic relationship with the complainant, which soured when he discovered her sexual orientation.
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According to the prosecution’s case, the abuse began in 2007 when the victim, then 11 years old, was visiting Matyenyika’s residence during a holiday. During this time, the victim’s sister, who is Matyenyika’s wife, would often leave the two alone while she tended to daily tasks.
The court heard that Matyenyika would call the victim into his bedroom, where he allegedly forced her to sit on his lap and touch his genitals, telling her that she was now his “new wife” bestowed upon him by her parents. These assaults allegedly continued until 2011, but the victim did not disclose them to anyone.
The second charge pertains to an incident in 2011 when the victim was asked to bring food to Matyenyika in his bedroom, where she was then raped. The abuse continued until 2014, during which the victim became pregnant and Matyenyika purportedly provided her with abortion pills.
Further revelations in court outlined a pattern of ongoing abuse, with Matyenyika allegedly sexually assaulting the victim at various lodges and hotels after she began working at his restaurant in 2016. The victim claims she was coerced into aborting pregnancies in 2014 and 2018, the latter resulting in her giving birth to a child who was subsequently adopted by Social Welfare and placed in foster care.
It was only after the birth of her child that the victim confided in her aunt and ultimately filed a police report against Matyenyika. In her testimony, she recounted a history of trauma and abuse, noting that her own birth was the result of her mother being raped by Matyenyika’s elder brother-in-law.
The case has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the enduring trauma faced by victims of sexual abuse and the challenges of reporting such crimes. Matyenyika maintains his innocence, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle as the trial unfolds.
