ZTN anchor Robert Mukondiwa charged with indecent assault

Zimbabwe Television Network (ZTN) anchor Robert Mukondiwa has been arrested and charged with indecent assault.

The 40 year-old has been accused of raping a 19-year-old Upper Sixth student after plying him with alcohol.

The prosecution alleges that Mukondiwa forced himself on the student who had gone to his house to request money for school fees. He had been directed there by a woman in the UK who had seen his Facebook post. She would assess the alleged victim’s needs and be advised accordingly.

Mukondiwa is said to have forced himself on the victim after a night out drinking at a shebeen. This would have been at Mukondiwa’s home where the victim was forced to sleep.

Magistrate Babra Mateko said the charge was a Third Schedule and thus bail could only be requested in the High Court.

He was not asked to plead and is remanded in custody until 12 April 2021. If found guilty, Mukondiwa faces life in jail.

Mukondiwa has been one of the main presenters at ZTN, anchoring multiple shows. He was the face of their broadcast of the late former president Robert Mugabe.