Girl 'raped' after church service

TWO teenagers from Binga have been arrested for allegedly taking turns to rape a 16-year-old girl at night after a church service.

Ndubeko Mwembe, 18, Kampandu Village and a 15-year-old boy from Sialozi Village both under Chief Dobola, in Kariangwe, Binga, appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga yesterday.

Mwembe faces two counts of rape while his partner in crime faces one.

The two denied the charges and were remanded in the custody of their parents to today for continuation of trial.

Mwembe and the 15-year-old boy are friends and allegedly pounced on the girl when they spotted her walking home along a path with her cousin who later fled and informed the girl's mother.

Prosecuting, Tawanda Sigauke said the rape allegedly occurred on December 7 last year.

"On December 7 last year at around 8PM and at Kampandu bush, the complainant and her cousin were walking home from a church service. They were approached by the two accused persons who grabbed the girl by the hands. The complainant's cousin fled and went home to inform the complainant's mother about what had happened."

The court heard that Mwembe and his accomplice tripped the girl and pulled her into the bush.

They allegedly took turns to rape her while pinning her down.