Bulawayo women raped in pleasure romps

TWO Bulawayo women were raped in separate incidents by unknown assailants who attacked them while they were reportedly relaxing with boyfriends in their vehicles at secluded spots in the city.

Both incidents occurred in the early hours of the morning, one at 4.10am between 13th and 14th Avenue and Josiah Chinamano Street and the other at about 5.30 am near the Centenary Park.

The victims are believed to be married.

The first incident happened on Monday while the second was on 15 September.

Acting police spokesperson for Bulawayo Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu confirmed police were investigating the crimes yesterday.

According to police sources close to investigations, the complainant (name withheld) in the first case, was allegedly relaxing with a boyfriend in a vehicle along Josiah Chinamano Street, when a man approached and smashed the window on the driver's side.

"The man allegedly produced a knife and proceeded to rob the pair of the woman's trousers and shoes. He then demanded cash. The man opened the door and fled, leaving the woman at the mercy of the mugger," said the source.

The sources said the mugger then force-marched the woman to Matsheumhlophe River, behind the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Hall Number 2 and raped her.

"The man then walked away from the scene leaving the woman undressed. She however managed to make a report to the police, later in the day," said the source.

In the second incident, the woman was reportedly in a parked car with her boyfriend near the Centenary Park at about 5.30am when a group of people allegedly pounced on them.

"They smashed the window on the driver's side and ordered the couple out of the car at knife point. They instructed them to lie down and proceeded to ransack the car. They took cash, cell phones and other valuables. One of the suspects then dragged the woman to a spot a few metres away and raped her, while his colleagues held the man captive," said another source.

The assailants reportedly fled after committing the crime and the pair made a report to the police.

Asst Insp Ndlovu said the suspects were still at large.

"We are investigating two cases of people who were robbed and raped in the city centre recently. We are yet to make arrests," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.

He said according to intelligence gathered by police, a number of people were getting raped when they went with lovers in vehicles to secluded locations in the city.

"Most of the people would be married, so a majority of them do not make reports because they fear the repercussions when their spouses find out," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.

He said police had on numerous patrols come across couples making love in vehicles at out-of-the-way spots.

"We strongly discourage such behaviour. Besides being illegal, it is a danger to people who indulge in it. Police on Patrol often see such scenes at isolated places on the outskirts of the city which include 15th Avenue, Simon Parirenyatwa, Masotsha, Robert Mugabe and Josiah Tongogara Streets," said Asst Insp Ndlovu.

He appealed to members of the public who might have information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact their nearest police station, deposit the information in a police suggestion box or alternatively, call the 24 hour Bulawayo police hotline number (09) 885479.