Man up for unlawful entry, rape, theft

A MAN from Mkhosana Township in Victoria Falls man was last week arraigned before the courts for unlawful entry, rape and theft.

Phinias Sibanda(38) of 5232 Mkhosana appeared before Hwange regional magistrate for western division, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga, for contravening sections 131,65 and 113 of the Criminal Law(Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23,unlawful entry, rape and theft respectively.

For the State, the prosecutor, Mr Sifelumusa Fuzane, told the court that on 30 December last year at around midnight the complainant retired to bed having locked the door.

It is alleged that at around 3am Sibanda forcibly opened the door where the complainant was sleeping.

The complainant upon seeing the accused screamed but Sibanda shut her mouth with his hand and threatened to kill her.

Sibanda is alleged to have undressed  the complainant and raped her once without protection.

After raping the complainant he allegedly took his victim's cellphone and disappeared.

The complainant told her neighbour what had happened who in turn reported the matter to the police. Sibanda was arrested trying to have the phone flashed by technicians who had been tipped by the police to look out for a similar phone.

The complainant managed to identify the mobile phone which still had her pictures and those of her family but Sibanda argued that he had bought the cellphone from someone.

After his arrest it was discovered that he had 16 cellphones which he had stolen from other residents in the area.

During the trial he, however, admitted to the charges and was remanded to 25 November for judgment.