Woman raped for 6 hours

A WOMAN from Tsholotsho has told a magistrate how she was allegedly forcibly taken out of her home at knifepoint by Mqondisi Sibanda (32) from her neighbourhood who whipped her all the way to his homestead where he allegedly raped her overnight.

The woman said she only managed to escape at around 5AM the following day after her attacker fell asleep.

It is the state's case that on March 11 this year, Sibanda went to the victim's place of residence at around 11PM.

Sibanda is alleged to have pushed the complainant's door open and dragged her to his homestead. He whipped her all the way. Upon arrival he undressed her and raped her at knife point, threatening to stab her if she screamed. Complainant escaped at 5AM. She reported the matter to her mother who accompanied her to the police.

The victim told the court that Sibanda drew an Okapi knife from his pocket and ordered her to follow him.

The victim claims that she sleeping with my sister in their hut when Sibanda budged in. She resisted Sibanda order. She punched the hand that had an Okapi and it fell to the floor. Her sister took it away and hid it. Sibanda grabbed the complainant the arm and ordered her to dress up. He force marched her to his house. She tried to run away along the way but he caught up with her. He threatened to stab her if I tried to flee again.

The woman said when they got to his homestead, her attacker forcibly removed all her clothes and pushed her onto the bed.

"He raped me through the night. At 5AM, I asked him to release me but he refused. He went back to sleep and that was when I fled from his house. I narrated the ordeal to my mother," she said.

Sibandapleaded not guilty to kidnapping and rape when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere on Friday.

Sibanda said he did not have much to say in defence and the court could take any action it deemed necessary.

The magistrate remanded him in custody to Wednesday for judgment.