TWO men from Msweli Village under Chief Sikhobokhobo in Nkayi, Matabeleland North province who were part of a six-member gang that allegedly robbed a woman before taking turns to rɑpǝ her have appeared in court.
The two men, Khonzani Gumbo and Nkosi Sibanda, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga facing robbery and rɑpǝ charges.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to 21 June.
A court heard that sometime in May this year while the 43-year-old woman was walking towards the shops, Gumbo, Sibanda and their accomplices who are still at large spotted her before they decided to ambush her, the court heard.
When she drew closer Gumbo and Sibanda emerged from the bush and instructed her to stop but she ran into the other side of the bush and hid, the court heard.
The court heard that after a few minutes she continued with her journey and they spotted her again before they ran after her.
When they caught up with her they allegedly struck her with an axe on the head and she fell.
It is alleged that one of the suspects hit her left eye before they were joined by their other four accomplices.
They stri!pped the woman nɑkǝd before taking turns to rɑpǝ her, the court further heard.
After ƨǝxuɑlly attacking her they searched her handbag and took US$200 and her clothes before they fled.
After a couple of minutes she regained consciousness and staggered to the shops and narrated her ordeal to a relative who accompanied her to a police station where she reported the incident.
Investigations by the police led to the arrest of Gumbo and Sibanda.
— BMetro
