Woman raped, axed in the bush

A woman from Tsholotsho aged 24, has claimed that she was raped and  struck with an axe while rounding up her goats in the bush.

The alleged incident happened on 26 August last year.

According to court reports, the woman says the alleged perpetrator Lighton Ngwenya (25) spotted her while in the bush.

Ngwenya then proposed love but was turned down.

It was at that point that he allegedly raped the woman and axed her once at the back of her head, leaving her unconscious, the court heard.

"He threatened to kill me if I refused to sleep with him" she narrated in court.

"I tried to run away but the place was full of thorns so I couldn't run. I tried to scream after the sexual attack but he struck me at the back of my head and I passed out".

 However, Ngwenya  said he only saw the woman for the first time  through the police during his arrest.

"I know nothing about this matter Your Worship. I have never met this woman before.

"My first time to see her was when I met her through the police. I don't know what she's talking about".

 His not guilty plea was not enough to sway the court as he was remanded in custody  to tomorrow by Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Joseph Mabeza.