Policeman arrested for allegedly raping woman at police station

A Zimbabwean policeman identified as Phinias Shava has been arrested and arraigned in court for allegedly raping a woman in a police station.

The 31-year-old police officer who is stationed at Hillside Police Station was arraigned in court on a two-count charge bordering on rape.

A prosecutor revealed that the alleged crime occurred when Shava was assigned to the How Mine police base.

On the day of the said crime, the victim (27) who cannot be named for ethical reasons, went to the police base at around 8 PM to collect some service papers which she had left being processed.

It was alleged that Shava took advantage of the fact that there was no one else around and locked the door. He then grabbed the woman and dragged her to another room inside the building, ripped off all her clothes including her undergarments, removed his police combat uniform and raped her once using protection.

He is said to have held the woman against her will for the remainder of the night. During the same night, he is alleged to have raped the victim two more times. However, he did not use protection on the last two occasions.

The policeman however pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Rachel Mukanga. The magistrate released the police officer on ZWL$10,000 bail and remanded him out of custody to April 15, 2021.

The magistrate also warned Shava not to interfere with state witnesses and to report at Mzilikazi Police Station every Friday.