Court Orders Tomana to Issue Certificate for Private Prosecution of MP Kereke

WASHINGTON —  High Court judge Happias Zhou has ordered prosecutor general Johannes Tomana to issue a certificate for the private prosecution of Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke on charges of allegedly raping an 11-year girl at gunpoint four years ago.

Tomana declined to prosecute Kereke citing lack of incriminating evidence. This prompted the Girls Guardian, Francis Maramwidze, to approach the High Court for redress.

The alleged rape occurred at Kereke’s Vainona home in Harare. Kereke, a former advisor to former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe chief Gideon Gono, has vehemently denied the allegations accusing Gono of fronting a smear campaign after their acrimonious fallout.

Gono has dismissed Kereke’s allegations as baseless.

Reacting to the court decision, Tomana told Studio 7 that he will consider the High Court order. The complainant’s family lawyer, Charles Warara said the order is a welcome relief.
At the same time, Kereke’s lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri said they are working on the matter.

Director of the Girl Child Network, Betty Makoni, whose organization has been advocating for Kereke’s prosecution for several years now, said the order, though delayed, is pleasing.

For analysis of the case, Studio 7 reached legal expert and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, also president of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly party, to unpack the meaning of a certificate of private prosecution.