Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentary member Desire Nkala has been accused of rape by a woman who claims he forced himself on her at a lodge in Harare during last year’s election campaign period.
According to a police memo, the complainant says Nkala took her to an undisclosed lodge in Harare’s central business district. After dinner, the two reportedly went to bed, where Nkala allegedly began caressing her without consent and forcibly removed her clothes.
The report states that Nkala then put on a condom and had sexual intercourse with her against her will. After the alleged incident, he reportedly told her he was going to sleep elsewhere and left her in the room crying.
The woman claims she returned to Gwanda the next morning and later disclosed the alleged assault to her sister. Following family discussions, she traveled back to Harare on July 5 to file a police report. She has since undergone a medical examination at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
In a statement, Nkala strongly denied the allegations
“I’m shocked at these accusations. I don’t know the person in question, either during our campaign or any other time. I never held campaign activities with ladies or invited them for meetings later on.”
He further suggested the charges are politically motivated,“This is a Zanu PF smear campaign to assassinate my character in the constituency. I’m yet to hear from the police and would prefer not to say more at this point.”
Investigations are ongoing.
