Man kidnaps, rapes ex-lover

A 28-year-old Chitungwiza man allegedly hired thugs to kidnap his ex-girlfriend before he raped her three times at his house. Lovemore Maiko of 14 Gomarara, Zengeza 1 and his gang of three intercepted the 19-year-old on her way from school.

The incident took place on September 11 at around 1pm when the teenager was walking along Ingwe Road. It is alleged that the gang jumped out of the vehicle, grabbed the teenager and tossed her into the car while Maiko waited inside. The trio allegedly dumped the victim inside Maiko's room and locked the door. Maiko allegedly came to his house at around 7pm and tied her hands and legs with pieces of blankets.

He allegedly gagged her by inserting a piece of cloth into her mouth before threatening to kill her and raped her once at knife point. Maiko allegedly spent the whole night with the victim inside his house and raped her twice before setting her free around 4am the following day. She went home and narrated her ordeal to her mother who accompanied her to report the matter to the police.

Appearing before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo, Maiko was not asked to plead to three counts of rape and one of kidnapping. He was remanded to September 30 for trial. Maiko, through his lawyer Mr Maxwell Mavhunga, was granted $50 bail and asked to report at St Mary's Police Station every Friday.

Mr Tatenda Mukatera prosecuted.