A magistrate in Zimbabwe has ruled the trial of a prominent pro-government church minister who is accused of raping his maid must go ahead

Independent Online:

Obadiah Msindo, the leader of the Destiny for Africa Network, had applied to have his case dismissed.

He says the charges have been trumped up because of his strong support for President Robert Mugabe's government.

But Harare magistrate Judith Tsamba ruled on Monday that Msindo had a case to answer, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported.

Msindo stands accused of raping his 22-year-old domestic servant five times.

"After considering submissions from both counsels, it is this court's finding that there is a prima facie case against the accused and the application is, therefore, dismissed," said Tsamba.

The churchman is often a prominent guest at state functions and is loud in his support of Mugabe, who he calls a "black Moses".

Msindo's lawyers say the case against him is "riddled with inconsistencies" and maintain that the alleged victim - who says the churchman threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the attack - is not a credible witness, reports the Herald.

"He has reason to believe that it is because of his unwavering support for the ruling party that his political detractors plotted his downfall and demise by using the complainant to falsely lay these trumped-up charges against him," lawyer Nickiel Mushangwe said last week.

Rape cases are on the increase in Zimbabwe but many go unreported or are withdrawn before trial, state media reported last month.

Zimbabwe: Msindo Put Accuser Under Surveillance, Court Told