Prosecutor and lawyer in court for obstructing justice in 13-year-old girl’s rape case 

By Staff Reporter 

A PUBLIC prosecutor and lawyer are facing trial at Mutare Magistrates Court after they allegedly connived to defeat or obstruct the course of justice involving a rape case.

The duo of prosecutor Timothy Katsande (34) and lawyer Benjamin Basikiti (35) was remanded to September 12, 2025, for the defence case.

Court heard that the pair conspired to alter facts in a rape matter involving a 13-year-old girl. They allegedly drafted and tendered a false statement of agreed facts, suggesting the child and the accused rapist were in a consensual sexual relationship and not related — contrary to evidence in the docket.

It was further heard that, due to the misrepresentation, the perpetrator pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of sexual intercourse with a minor, resulting in a lighter sentence of 36 months’ imprisonment, part of which was suspended.

On September 4 this year, the court dismissed Katsande and Basikiti’s application for discharge at the close of the State’s case, ruling that the duo has a case to answer.