Political Reporter

MDC Alliance legislator for Budiriro constituency, Costa Machingauta, was yesterday arrested on allegations of raping a 26 year old woman.

According to the police, Machingauta allegedly raped a female passenger he had given lift and has since been detained at Harare Central Police station.

“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Costa Machingauta (45) on allegations of rape following a report made by a complainant who was a passenger in his vehicle. The suspect will appear in court soon,” said the Police in a statement.

Machingauta is not new to crime as he has a pending case of public violence for participating in protests staged over alleged delays in the announcement of the results of the 2018 harmonised elections.

The MDC Alliance members have been in the news for rape cases. In 2018, that party’s Kariba party treasurer, who was also the 2018 aspiring Ward 8 councillor, Kainos Bhasera Mutatu, was arrested for raping a 13-year-old minor.

In 2019, the MDC Alliance legislator for Magwegwe constituency in Bulawayo, Anele Ndebele, was again arrested for raping and impregnating a high school pupil.

Efforts to get a comment from that party’s spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere were fruitless as she was attending to a court case.