Harare – The rape trial of social media personality Ashley Msendeke, who is popularly known as Mai Jeremaya, took a dramatic turn yesterday as lawyers representing the two accused men, Thabo Blessing Dube and Martin Charlie, raised concerns about inconsistencies in her testimony.
Mai Jeremaya has accused Dube and Charlie of gang raping her at a lodge in Harare on April 30 this year. The trial, presided over by regional magistrate Letwin Rwodzi, resumed with Mai Jeremaya being cross-examined on her evidence-in-chief, which she gave last Friday.
Dube and Charlie’s legal representatives, Shepherd Makonde and George Manokore, questioned Mai Jeremaya about discrepancies between her court testimony and the three statements she provided to the police. The defence insinuated that a man named Sam, a key figure in the case whom Mai Jeremaya claimed initially contacted her, was a figment of her imagination.
“I take it it’s you who just saved his number as Sam because, according to the evidence before this court, you never met with this Sam,” said Makonde. In response, Mai Jeremaya stated that she had concluded that Dube was using the pseudonym ‘Sam’ to lure her.
When asked to produce forensic evidence from mobile service providers to support her claim, Mai Jeremaya admitted that she did not have such evidence. Due to time constraints, the matter was adjourned until Friday, when the defence is expected to cross-examine her further on the merits of the case.
Mai Jeremaya told the court that:
- She started crying when she realised she was about to be raped by Charlie.
- Fear of her attacker forced her to remove her clothes, and when Charlie removed his clothes, she pleaded with him to use condoms. Charlie allegedly fondled her and demanded that she should kiss his private parts.
- After being allegedly raped by the duo, she initially decided not to tell anyone about her ordeal due to fear of backlash and embarrassment.
- One of her attackers scared her by claiming he had access to classified information and would hunt her down wherever she hid.
- She has suffered physically and now relies on medication, some of which has caused adverse reactions, making it difficult for her to sleep.
- She now suffers from anxiety and believes the incident has destroyed her relationship, despite pre-existing challenges.
The social media star, who waived her right to anonymity typically afforded to victims in sexual abuse cases by publicly discussing the case on social media, also shared details about her personal life.
Asked what she does for a living, Mai Jeremaya said she was an actress. “I’m an actress and a musician, I’m a social media influencer.”
She added: “I’m not formally married but I’ve been cohabiting with my husband for the past eight years and we have three children.”
She recounted the events leading up to the alleged rape, stating: “On the day in question, I was in Westgate where I had visited my family friend with my children and I responded to a WhatsApp message from one Sam.”
“It wasn’t the first time he had messaged me, previously he had requested for the price that I would charge for advertising his trucks.”
“On April 9, I had received a call from one Dube who had said he was from Elite Driving School and wanted me to shoot an advert for them but he never came to the meeting as I was with my husband.”
“When I got into town on the 30th, I contacted Sam, asking for directions to where we would meet, and I had emphasised that I didn’t have money to use to get back home.”
“Sam gave me a number to call saying he was busy but his driver would pick me up, I called the number and waited for hours before Charlie came to pick me up.”
She told the court that she was under the impression they were going to ‘Sam’s office. “I was then shocked when we got into the ‘office’ to see a bed and the two locked me in the room.”
“When I realised that I was about to be raped I started crying and Dube warned me that it would infuriate Charlie.”
“Dube left the room and Charlie started taking off his clothes, I demanded that he use condoms.”
“Because I was afraid when Charlie started removing his clothes I also removed my dress and left my bra and pulling socks on.”
Asked by prosecutor Mashingaidze if she was in agreement, Mai Jeremaya said: “I don’t believe I was in agreement but I was acting out of coercion and fear, if I had wanted to engage in sexual activity it would have been with Sam, not these boys.”
“Initially, I had decided that I wasn’t going to tell anyone about my ordeal because, besides that I have a public persona, I didn’t want to be embarrassed.”
“He had scared me by saying he had access to classified information and he had told me scary stories and he would find me wherever I would be.”
“I suffered physically as I had to take medication which I reacted to, I have anxiety, I can’t sleep even though we were having problems with my husband. I think this destroyed my marriage, I have been embarrassed.”
Dube and Charlie have vehemently denied the charges, claiming that the encounter was consensual and that Mai Jeremaya initiated the meeting via text message to Charlie. They stated that Mai Jeremaya was picked up by Charlie in Harare CBD, and they proceeded to Eastlea to pick up Dube and his girlfriend.
The duo claimed that after dropping off Dube’s girlfriend, Charlie went to buy lunch, leaving Dube and Mai Jeremaya alone in the car. They allege that Mai Jeremaya then revealed she had recently separated from her husband and was desperate for money.
Charlie testified that after arriving at the lodge, Mai Jeremaya allegedly demanded advance payment, which was given. She then voluntarily undressed, engaged in foreplay, including kissing and caressing Charlie, assisted him in wearing a condom, and actively participated during the intercourse.
The duo further claimed that after the sexual encounter, Mai Jeremaya demanded US$500, claiming she had given Charlie “extras” by kissing and engaging in foreplay. When Charlie refused, she allegedly reduced the amount to US$300, which he still couldn’t afford. They assert that Mai Jeremaya never expressed any distress or lack of consent.
The trial continues, with the defence set to further cross-examine Mai Jeremaya on Friday. The case has drawn significant public attention due to Mai Jeremaya’s social media presence and the conflicting accounts of the events.
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