News / Regional
Man 'rapes' neighbour, forces her to jump border into Botswana
04 Feb 2016 at 05:38hrs | Views
A 26-YEAR-OLD man from Bulilima District allegedly raped his 22-year-old neighbour before forcing her to accompany him to Botswana where he works through an illegal crossing point.
Lovemore Mpofu of Matibe area was intercepted by villagers in a bushy area near the Maitengwe Border Post while force marching his victim to the neighbouring country.
The villagers surrendered him over to the police. Mpofu appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, facing rape, assault and kidnapping charges. The magistrate remanded him in custody to February 12.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Mpofu first raped the woman on January 4. He allegedly attacked her again on January 18 and force marched her towards Botswana.
"On 4 January, Mpofu waylaid the woman in a bushy area and ordered her to engage in sex with him. The woman refused and Mpofu then struck her several times with a brick on the head and then dragged her into a thick bush and raped her once.
"He warned the woman against reporting the matter to the police. The woman remained quiet about the incident out of fear," said Sibanda.
She said on January 18, Mpofu waylaid the woman as she was coming from the shops in the evening. He emerged from his hiding place armed with a knife and stabbed her several times on the shoulder.Sibanda said the woman tried to escape from Mpofu's grip but her assailant struck her with a brick and a log.
She said Mpofu then force marched the woman through a bushy area saying he was taking her to Botswana where he works.
"Mpofu then forced the woman to accompany him to Botswana through an illegal entry point near Maitengwe Border Post. Along the way he raped the woman once at Maitengwe River.
"Mpofu was intercepted by some villagers who had heard the woman screaming for help and had followed the pair. The villagers force marched Mpofu to Maitengwe Police Base where they handed him over to the police resulting in his arrest," said Sibanda.
Lovemore Mpofu of Matibe area was intercepted by villagers in a bushy area near the Maitengwe Border Post while force marching his victim to the neighbouring country.
The villagers surrendered him over to the police. Mpofu appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, facing rape, assault and kidnapping charges. The magistrate remanded him in custody to February 12.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Mpofu first raped the woman on January 4. He allegedly attacked her again on January 18 and force marched her towards Botswana.
"On 4 January, Mpofu waylaid the woman in a bushy area and ordered her to engage in sex with him. The woman refused and Mpofu then struck her several times with a brick on the head and then dragged her into a thick bush and raped her once.
"He warned the woman against reporting the matter to the police. The woman remained quiet about the incident out of fear," said Sibanda.
She said on January 18, Mpofu waylaid the woman as she was coming from the shops in the evening. He emerged from his hiding place armed with a knife and stabbed her several times on the shoulder.Sibanda said the woman tried to escape from Mpofu's grip but her assailant struck her with a brick and a log.
She said Mpofu then force marched the woman through a bushy area saying he was taking her to Botswana where he works.
"Mpofu then forced the woman to accompany him to Botswana through an illegal entry point near Maitengwe Border Post. Along the way he raped the woman once at Maitengwe River.
"Mpofu was intercepted by some villagers who had heard the woman screaming for help and had followed the pair. The villagers force marched Mpofu to Maitengwe Police Base where they handed him over to the police resulting in his arrest," said Sibanda.
Source - chronicle
