By Revesai Mevetera
Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Chiefs’ Council and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), is currently under scrutiny as a victim has come forward with allegations of sexual assault. The alleged victim recently lodged a complaint against the police, accusing them of failing to take action on her initial report. She has also filed an additional charge of victimization.
According to reports, Charumbira had invited the victim, a married teacher based in Masvingo, to a lunch meeting at a prominent hotel in Harare. It is alleged that during the encounter, Charumbira solicited a kiss from the victim, which she promptly rejected. The incident occurred on March 31 of this year when the victim was on a school-related trip to Mazowe.
Charumbira, however, vehemently denies the sexual assault allegations, dismissing them as a smear campaign. In a surprising turn of events, he has even threatened to sue the complainant for defamation, further complicating the matter.
The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed for ethical reasons, reported the incident to the Masvingo Central Police Station in April under report reference number RRB 5457646. However, Charumbira has not been arrested or questioned by the police in connection with the allegations, leaving the victim disillusioned and frustrated with the lack of progress in her case.
In a letter dated June 5, 2023, addressed to the officer commanding the Masvingo province, David Mahoya, the victim expressed her concerns. She outlined that she had previously reported Charumbira for threatening violence against her. The victim highlighted that since filing the report, no action has been taken, and she remains unaware of any judicial proceedings related to her case. She expressed her disappointment, suggesting that the law might be selectively applied, discriminating against certain individuals. She also criticized the lack of accountability, emphasizing the continued suffering of women and girls at the hands of influential figures who seem immune to legal repercussions.
The response from the police authorities has been mixed. The Masvingo police boss claimed to be unaware of the letter and redirected inquiries to provincial spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dewa. However, Inspector Dewa was unavailable at the time and referred the matter to provincial police deputy spokesperson Lorraine Ndlovu. Ndlovu stated that while they had not received the letter, the case had been transferred to the Harare province, where the incident reportedly occurred. Therefore, the Harare police are currently responsible for handling the investigation.
Efforts to reach the national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, have been unsuccessful thus far, leaving the public without an official statement on the matter.
