A horrifying incident of armed robbery and rape has left a Ruwa family traumatised and shaken, highlighting the growing fear of crime in Zimbabwe. The attack, which occurred on Saturday night, saw a 30-year-old woman brutally assaulted in the presence of her husband and nine-year-old daughter.
The family was watching television in their lounge when five armed robbers, one wielding a pistol and the others brandishing knives, forced their way into the house. The assailants, who are believed to have been motivated by robbery, immediately terrorised the family, tying the husband’s hands with a rope and demanding cash.
“The accused persons tied the complainants’ hands with a rope demanding cash from the complainants who told them that they had none,” said Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, Harare provincial police spokesperson.
Despite the presence of the young daughter, the robbers proceeded to ransack the house, making off with a haul of valuables including two solar panels, two cellphones, blankets, shoes, and clothes, all estimated to be worth over US$300.
However, the ordeal did not end there. One of the robbers, emboldened by the family’s helplessness, proceeded to rape the woman in front of her husband and daughter, adding another layer of horror to the already traumatic experience.
“The daughter was ordered to lie down and she later untied her parents after the robbers went away with goods worth more than US$300,” said Inspector Chakanza.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of residents, particularly women and children. Many are left wondering what measures can be taken to prevent such horrific crimes from occurring again.
“Police are investigating an armed robbery and rape cases in Ruwa,” said Inspector Chakanza, confirming the police’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
This comes just a week after a similar incident occurred in Epworth when a man was left traumatized and his wife in need of medical attention after she was brutally raped by a stranger.
The incident occurred on a dusty road near Stopover Shopping Centre in Epworth.
The couple, who were returning home from the shopping centre around 10pm, encountered a man who began making false claims that he was walking with the wife. The wife immediately denied knowing the man and became violent, attempting to defend herself.
The attacker, unfazed by the husband’s absence, proceeded to rape the woman twice, without any protection. After the horrific ordeal, the woman was left alone and unable to locate her husband. She sought refuge at a nearby house and later received medical attention at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
