The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
TWO men have been arrested while their three accomplices are at large for allegedly attacking a couple from Esigodini at their home, robbing them and raping the woman.
Tedious Mapiye (31) from Gokwe and Newton Ndlovu (22) from Binga were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi last week facing charges of malicious damage to property, assault, rape and robbery. They were remanded in custody to 19 September for trial.
Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said Mapiye, Ndlovu and their accomplices who were armed with logs and machetes invaded the couple’s home in Esigodini on 28 May at around 2am and assaulted the man who fled before raping his wife.
On 28 May at around 2am, the complainants were sleeping in their home when Ndlovu knocked on the door. The woman asked who it was and Ndlovu responded but they didn’t open the door. Ndlovu left and came back after an hour with his four other accomplices including Mapiye and they threw stones at the complainants’ house and destroyed property valued at $672.
“The gang then gained entry into the house and Mapiye hit the man once on the head with a machete and he fled from his house, leaving his wife behind with the gang. The gang then assaulted the woman several times all over her body and Mapiye went on to rape her while his accomplices watched and stood guard while armed with machetes and logs. The rest of the gang also demanded to rape the woman but Mapiye refused,” she said.
Miss Mahachi said the gang went on to demand cash from the complainant and she gave them $60 and they also took clothing items and a cellphone all valued at $387. She said the gang further took the complainant with them and headed towards Habane Extension. Miss Mahachi said the other gang members agreed to let the woman go but Mapiye refused and they parted ways with him and left him with her.
The court heard that Mapiye force marched the woman to his house where he demanded to have sexual intercourse with her and threatened to attack her with a machete if she refused. Mapiye raped the woman and left her in the house. The complainant managed to escape and went to a nearby homestead where she sought refuge. Her husband managed to locate her at the house and they reported the matter to the police resulting in Mapiye and Ndlovu’s arrest.
@DubeMatutu
