The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A 19-YEAR-OLD teenager has been arrested after he allegedly robbed his neighbour of US$20 after threatening to chop her with an axe before raping her.
The man from Ntabenende area in Esigodini who cannot be named for ethical reasons pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and robbery when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira. He was remanded in custody to 31 January for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Nyoni said the teenager attacked the woman on 6 November last year at around 10pm after they met at Ntabenende Business Centre.
“The complainant was at Ntabenende Business Centre with a friend when they were approached by the accused person’s friend saying the accused person wanted to see her. The complainant went to where the accused person was in a secluded place and her friend excused them. Accused person produced an axe and threatened to chop the complainant into pieces if she didn’t comply with his orders.
“He ordered the complainant to hand over all the money she had and she gave him US$20. The accused person while still holding the axe ordered the complainant to remove her clothes and lie on the ground. She complied and he went on to rape her. The accused person then held the complainant hostage for about 30 minutes before releasing her. He threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to anyone,” he said.
Mr Nyoni said the complainant returned to where her friend was and narrated what had happened. The matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the accused person. In his defence the accused person said he engaged the complainant who is a commercial sex worker for her services. He said he gave her US$10 and she was supposed to deduct ZW$35 bond for her payment and give back his change of ZW$85. The accused person said they had sexual intercourse in a bush near the business centre and after they were done he asked for his change but the complainant refused to give him.
However, testifying in court the complainant said the accused person raped her in a bushy area near the business centre after he sent his friend to call her. She denied to have consented to the sex or receiving payment from the accused.
