Fake CIO gets 16 years in jail for rape

A TAXI owner, Progress Ndiweni (34) who masqueraded as a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation and raped a woman thrice has been jailed for 16 years.

Ndiweni of Number 3402, Nketa 7 in Bulawayo, pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by former Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mthombeni.

Mrs Mthombeni, who is now stationed in Harare, sentenced him to 18 years in jail but two years of the sentence were conditionally suspended for five years.

Mr Tinashe Dzipe for the State proved that on 13 October 2010 at about 8pm, the complainant, aged 32, was coming from a party when Ndiweni accused her of being in the company of thieves.

He escorted her to her residence and when they got there, they were received by the complainant's mother who asked who Ndiweni was and the complainant told her how she had met him.

As they were talking to the complainant's mother, who was in her night dress, Ndiweni identified himself as a member of the CIO.

When the complainant's mother had gone to dress up, Ndiweni, the State proved, produced a knife, dragged the complainant into a bush in Nketa 7 where he raped her once.

After sexually abusing her, he told her that he was taking her to Tshabalala Police Station where she was supposed to disclose the names of all the robbers she knew.

On the way, he led her to a stand, which was under construction and raped her again.

After that he slapped her thrice in the face and ordered her to undress he raped her for the third time before leading her towards suburb.

While they were still in Nketa 7, Ndiweni slapped once again in the face and ordered her to run home.