A POPULAR reggae music promoter and local entrepreneur who reportedly drugged a female colleague before raping her, yesterday appeared in court. Nhamoinesu Josiah Chitimbe (48) of 9 Singleton Road, Mabelreign in Harare pleaded not guilty to a rape charge when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Rogers Kachambwa.

Mr Kachambwa remanded Chitimbe to March 12 on US$200 bail.

As part of his bail conditions Chitimbe was ordered not to interfere with witnesses, submit his travel documents and report to the police.

Prosecutor Mr Allan Goche alleges that the 25-year-old complainant is Chitimbe's friend.

On February 3 this year and at around 11pm Chitimbe and the complainant who was in the company of her friends met at Newlands Shopping Centre.

He asked the complainant to accompany him to town and collect some goods after promising to drive her back home, the court was told.

Afterwards, it is alleged, Chitimbe drove his car to Mbare where he bought a bottle of Johnny Walker. He handed over a glass of the whisky before the complainant had two sips, it is alleged.

The complainant allegedly fell unconscious and regained consciousness the following day at around 6am.

At that time she realised they were both naked and Chitimbe was in the process of pulling her legs apart, the court heard. She discovered there was some semen on her thighs prompting her to push Chitimbe off her, it is alleged.

The complainant, it is alleged, left for the bathroom and took a bath before she was escorted home by Chitimbe. The complainant realised she was in the Greencroft, it is alleged.

She filed a report with the police following some indications and Chitimbe's house was positively identified as the place where the offence reportedly took place.