An unsettling case emerged on Tuesday as Lloyd Josamu, a 31-year-old operations assistant at Shalom Children’s Home in Harare, faced accusations of r@ping a 13-year-old girl residing at the facility.
Appearing before magistrate Stanford Mambanje, Josamu, who resides on Adlyn Road in Marlborough, was released on free bail and is scheduled for a remand hearing on February 2. He refrained from entering a plea to the one count of rape brought against him.
The incident that led to the arrest
The court heard that the alleged incident took place in January of the previous year when Josamu summoned the young girl to his room. According to Ethel Mahachi, representing the prosecution, the victim discovered him watching explicit content upon entering the room.
Allegedly, Josamu then coerced the victim into engaging in inappropriate actions, instructing her to touch him intimately and subsequently r@ping her without the use of protection. Disturbingly, he threatened the victim, warning her against disclosing the incident under the threat of expulsion from the children’s home.
The matter remained undisclosed until January 22, 2024, when the victim, during counselling sessions organized at the children’s centre, decided to break her silence. Mahachi emphasized the traumatizing nature of the incident and its impact on the young girl.
As a result of these serious allegations, Josamu has been suspended from his position at the orphanage pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
With Josamu released on bail, the legal process is set to unfold, and the remand hearing on February 2 will play a crucial role in determining the course of action. The prosecution, led by Ethel Mahachi, will present evidence and arguments to support the charge of rape against the accused.
It is essential to note that, at this stage, Josamu has not entered a plea, and the court will carefully examine the evidence presented during subsequent hearings. The gravity of the accusations demands a thorough and impartial legal investigation.
Source iHarare
