Police Launch Investigation as Gwanda North MP Accused of Rape
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP Desire Nkala is facing a serious accusation after a 37-year-old woman filed a rape report against him with police in Harare.
The woman claims the incident happened on 8 May 2025, at a lodge in Harare’s central business district. She reported the matter almost two months later, on 5 July 2025, at Harare Central Police Station.
Alleged Incident Follows Offer to Thank Alleged Victim
According to a police memo seen by ZimLive, the woman told investigators that Nkala contacted her by phone on 5 May, saying he wanted to express gratitude for her support during his 2023 election campaign. He allegedly offered to take her shopping and arranged to meet her in Harare.
She says when they met, he drove her to a lodge in the city centre where they had dinner and later went to bed together to talk. But, she claims, things took a dark turn around 10 PM.
The police report describes disturbing details. The woman says Nkala began touching her inappropriately despite her protests. She alleges that he forcibly removed her clothes, put on a condom, and raped her once without her consent. After the incident, he allegedly told her he was going to sleep at another lodge and left her in tears.
The memo reads:
“The accused person took the complainant and drove his motor vehicle to an unknown lodge in Harare CBD. On the same day, around 7PM after eating dinner, they went to bed and talked until 10PM.
The accused person started caressing the complainant all over her body. She tried to stop him but he went on caressing her, forcibly taking off her clothes.
The accused person then put on a condom and forcibly had sexual intercourse with the complainant once without her consent. The accused person left the complainant crying in the lodge and told her that he was going to sleep at an unnamed lodge where he had booked for himself.”
The woman told police she travelled back to Gwanda the next morning by bus. Once home, she shared her experience with her sister, who in turn informed other family members. They reportedly discussed how best to handle the matter before she returned to Harare two months later to file a formal report. She also underwent a medical examination at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Gwanda North MP Responds After Being Accused of Rape
When contacted for comment, Desire Nkala said he was shocked by the accusations. He distanced himself from the woman, saying he didn’t know her and had never worked with her during his campaign.
He also claimed the allegations were politically motivated:
“I’m shocked at these allegations. I don’t know about any (accuser’s name), either during our campaign or any other period during the election. I never held any campaign activity with ladies, let alone inviting them for any meetings later on. This is a Zanu PF smear campaign to assassinate my character in the constituency. I’m yet to hear from the police and for now I prefer not to say much.”
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The post Police Launch Investigation as Gwanda North MP Accused of Rape appeared first on iHarare News.
