A 24-year-old pastor from Tshapfutshe village outside Beit Bridge was jailed on Friday for an effective 10 years, for raping a 19-year-old member of his congregation.

Resistance Pikirayi Nhemiya, a newly appointed pastor of a local Zion Church in Tshapfuche village was convicted on his own plea of guilty of rape by local regional magistrate Mr Owen Tagu. Maringire was sentenced to 15 years, of which five were conditionally suspended for five years.

The prosecutor, Mr Johannes Tlou, said on 28 November last year at Tshapfutshe village, the victim was sent by her mother to inform other church members that she would not be able to attend the church service because she was unwell. The court heard that Maringire spotted the victim on her way home and he offered to accompany her.

The woman, however, initially refused, but the pastor insisted and, along the way, Nhemiya grabbed the complainant and wrestled with her until he managed to overpower her and subsequently raped her once.

After the incident, Nhemiya ordered the victim to go to his homestead and take a bath in a bid to conceal the evidence. The victim, however, refused and went to report the matter to her mother, who in turn informed the local police. This led to Nhemiya’s arrest.