By Judith Nyuke
A fast food outlet, Nandos’ manager who was embroiled in a s exual abuse scandal after being accused of r aping a coworker has been cleared of the charges by a Harare magistrate.
Xolisani Gama, 47, was facing allegations of r aping a subordinate twice in 2022.
During trial, three witnesses testified, including the complainant whose account of the r ape regarding time, place, and manner was inconsistent.
Login records from her workplace presented in court indicated that she was not at the branch she claimed to be working at during the alleged incident.
At the conclusion of the State’s case, Gama, through his lawyer, Tafadzwa Muvhami, applied for discharge.
Magistrate Taurai Manuwere granted this application, ruling that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence to support its case.
Consequently, Gama was found not guilty and acquitted.
The State failed to prove that Gama and the complainant were doing walk-throughs at their workplace when the accused locked a toilet door and raped the complainant before committing the same offence on another day.
It is further alleged that the complainant reported the matter to the Human Resources manager and the issue was taken to the complaints committee but Gama was found not guilty after internal investigations.
The complainant, however, felt short-changed and reported the matter to the police.
