By Cde Patriot Sunungura
The courtroom drama featuring socialite and ex-video vixen Ashley “Mai Jeremaya” Masendeke has gripped Zimbabwe tighter than a Kombi door at peak hour.
Thabo Dube and Martin Charlie stand accused of raping Masendeke, and the nation is split, some believe her, others don’t, and many are just here for the spectacle.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Shepherd Makonde turned up the heat:
“Did you remove your own clothes?” “Yes,” she answered.
“Direct his penis yourself?”
“Yes, because he failed,” she added, delivering a side of sexual critique.
Masendeke claims the act was coerced, gun present, emotions manipulated.
However, her friend and final state witness Cynthia Duringo flipped the narrative.
She told the court it was consensual, one of the accused apparently spoke to Masendeke “nicely” and even gave her a US$10 tip.
Duringo testified that her friend never mentioned rape, only how “nice” the man had been.
“She played along because she saw the gun,” said Duringo, suggesting a blurred line between fear and flirtation.
The public, true to form, has responded with memes, voice notes, and endless debate over whether this was rape, regret, or revenge for walking away with just US$10 after what’s been dubbed an “epic” threesome.
This isn’t the first time a rape case raised eyebrows.
Just last month, a Kadoma teenager admitted to falsely accusing a man.
She got 140 hours of community service, but left behind a trail of mistrust for real victims.
Many now argue that false accusers should face the same penalties their targets would have, because ruined lives don’t fix themselves.
As the Mai Jeremaya continues to unfold, Zimbabwe watches: part outraged, part amused, fully confused.
When sex, power, and public attention collide, even the truth gets cross-examined.
