Rapist arrested after love proposal to victim

A RAPIST in Bulawayo betrayed himself when he met his victim two years later and unwittingly proposed love to her before the woman tricked him into accompanying her to the police station leading to his arrest.

Alphios Chitsa, 27, of Mpopoma suburb was yesterday convicted of robbery and rape by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mark Dzira and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

He will, however, serve 16 years in jail after magistrate Dzira suspended four years for a period of five years on condition that he does not within that period commit similar crimes.

Chitsa, in his evidence, claimed that he had proposed love to the woman who had in turn agreed to the proposal before she later stole his cellphone when he took her to his home.

But Dzira, in his judgment, ruled that Chitsa's testimony lacked credibility.

"Your evidence isn't credible and it's the court's view that you indeed robbed and raped the victim in 2012 but failed to recognise her two years later when you met and proposed love to her.

"Rape is a traumatising experience especially when the victim manages to identify the perpetrator. The court is satisfied that you raped and robbed the victim and accordingly you are found guilty of the charges," said Dzira.

In handing down sentence, the magistrate raised concern over an increase in cases of rape.

"I find it strange that despite the fact that you're married, you chose to sexually satisfy yourself by raping another woman.

"A high prevalence of rape cases calls for a deterrent sentence and people like you who waylay women for the sole purpose of raping and robbing them deserve to spend many years in jail," ruled Dzira.

Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe said on March 4, 2012 shortly after 5PM, the victim was walking along Khami Road on her way to Mpopoma suburb when Chitsa, who was hiding in a bushy area, spotted her from a distance.

The court heard that Chitsa approached the woman and the two exchanged greetings.

Chitsa, who pretended to be friendly to the woman, later offered to accompany the victim and she unsuspectingly agreed.

"While the two were walking together they reached a secluded area near a railway line during which Chitsa grabbed the woman's hands and dragged her to a nearby bush.

"The victim tried to scream but her voice was drowned by the sound of a train which was passing by," said Dzipe.

When they arrived in the bush, Chitsa searched the victim, took her cellphone and $20 before ordering her to remove her clothes.

The court heard that when the victim tried to resist, Chitsa assaulted her with open hands before he forcibly stripped the woman naked and subsequently raped her.

Soon after committing the crime, Chitsa fled the scene.

The woman later dressed up and proceeded to the police station where she filed a report.

On March 16, 2014, the woman met Chitsa at the intersection of Basch Street and 6th Avenue.

"Chitsa proposed love to the victim and she immediately recognised him as her rapist. The woman pretended to have consented and she then asked Chitsa to accompany her to Mzilikazi Police Station under the false pretence that she wanted to visit her uncle," said Dzipe.

When they arrived at the police station the woman immediately alerted the police leading to Chitsa's arrest.