A teenager in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, was found guilty of falsely accusing a man of rape, a charge that could have led to a long prison sentence for the accused. The young woman, 18 years old and unnamed for legal reasons, admitted to fabricating the claim after an altercation with the man, known only as Mupostori. She initially reported being raped on May 9, 2025, but retracted the accusation ten days later, stating she made it out of spite after the man assaulted her when she tried to search his pockets.
The Kadoma Magistrates Court sentenced her to six months in prison, with two months suspended for five years if she maintains good behaviour. The remaining four months were suspended on the condition that she complete 140 hours of community service. The court’s choice of a lenient, rehabilitative sentence has sparked widespread criticism online. Many Zimbabwean men expressed anger, claiming the punishment is too light for a crime that could have destroyed an innocent man’s life.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the conviction in a social media post on June 5, 2025, quickly gaining attention and stirring heated debate. While some praised the sentence, the dominant reaction focused on demanding harsher penalties for false accusations of such a serious nature.
