MDC Alliance Party member of Parliament for Budiriro, Costa Machingauta (45) was on Thursday arrested on allegations of raping a Harare woman (26).
It is reported that Machingauta had given the woman a lift into Harare business District when he allegedly committed the offense.
National police spokesperson assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the legislator’s arrest.
“It is confirmed that Costa Machingauta has been arrested in connection with a rape report made by a 26-year old woman he had given a lift into the CBD, then to Mabvuku and back into the CBD. The alleged rape happened in the CBD. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon,” Nyathi said.
Meanwhile the MDC alliance legislator also has a pending case of public violence on which he allegedly participated in protests over delays in the announcement of the results of the 2018 harmonized elections.
Last week on Tuesday pro-democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe was sentenced to 14 months in jail, a week after being convicted for inciting public violence and resisting arrest.
The 28-year-old, an outspoken critic of Zimbabwe’s government, was jailed for 24 months on the first count of incitement, and 12 months for resisting arrest. Ten of the 24 months and six of the 12 months were suspended. With the two sentences to run concurrently. He will serve 14 months in prison.
At this moment the MDC Alliance Party members are being arrested for different crimes, a move that they are accusing the Zanu Pf Party to be the perpetrator.
The opposition Party is insisting that these arrests are meant to decimate their party structures ahead of the 2023 elections.
