The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
A BULILIMA man who stole a gun from his employer, killed a woman, raped another and robbed a third one in 2009 before fleeing to South Africa, has been sentenced to 20-and- a-half years in jail.
Joshua Dube (29) of Madlambuzi in Bulilima made headlines two years ago after South Africa demanded an undertaking from the Government that he will not be hanged if extradited.
South Africa had refused to extradite Dube who committed rape, armed robbery and murder before fleeing to that country where he was arrested in 2009. He stole a rifle from a fellow herdsman that he had been assigned to guard a field with.
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Dube two months ago when he arrived in the country with a group that had been deported for illegal migration.
Bulawayo magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza convicted Dube on his own plea of guilty to rape, theft and armed robbery.
In passing the sentence, Mr Mabeza said Dube committed the crimes in aggravating circumstances, which warranted a lengthy prison term.
“Rape is a serious crime, which the courts and society abhor. You actually exposed the victim to the risk of contracting sexual transmitted infections such as HIV. You also armed yourself with a log and assaulted the complainant before dispossessing her of her property,” said the magistrate.
Prosecuting, Mr Tinashe Dzipe said on 4 June 2009, Dube was assigned to guard fields together with Mr Leonard Moyo who was armed with a rifle. Mr Moyo left the firearm unattended as he went to look for firewood. Dube took advantage of Mr Moyo’s absence and stole the rifle and fled the farm.
Dube was a herdsman at a farm in Marula area and his duties required him to guard fields against wild animals.
The court heard that on the same night Dube went to a homestead at Ashallow Farm where he knocked on the door purporting to be selling meat.
Mr Dzipe said the complainant opened the door and Dube pointed the rifle at her demanding cash, but he failed to get the money and dragged the woman to a nearby bush where he raped her.
“Dube then force-marched the victim to another farm but she escaped along the way. Dube fired two shots in the air to stop her from escaping. Police detectives that were patrolling the area heard the gunshots and proceeded to investigate,” said Mr Dzipe.
When Dube saw the police detectives, he ditched the rifle and fled the scene.
Two days later Dube went to a homestead in Dombodema in the middle of the night and found Ms Tasiwa Dube seated outside her kitchen hut and demanded money.
She refused to give him the cash and Dube attacked her with an iron rod all over the body.
Dube fled after realising he had killed the woman and her grandchildren found her body a few minutes later.
“On 17 June Dube went to Figtree Hotel armed with a log. He demanded money from Ms Sindiso Ncube who was staying at the hotel. He struck her with the log several times on the body until she gave him R590.
Dube then fled the scene,” said the prosecutor.
Dube escaped into neighbouring South Africa where he has been holed up ever since. He was arrested on 6 October this year after he was spotted by locals at Madlambuzi Business Centre.
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