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Woman raped while praying at graveyard
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Police are investigating two disturbing incidents that occurred over the weekend in Harare, involving the rape of a young married woman at a graveyard in Chitungwiza and the violent robbery of a Rusape herdboy in Southley Park.
In the first case, a 21-year-old woman from Chitungwiza was attacked and raped by two men while she was praying at the St Mary's Mission graveyard on Saturday. The assailants, who falsely claimed to be caretakers of the graveyard, brandished a knife and threatened to kill her if she resisted.
According to police, the suspects forced the woman to a secluded part of the graveyard where they took turns raping her without protection before fleeing the scene. After the ordeal, the woman returned to her place of worship and informed her husband, who had been searching for her.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the case, stating, "Police are investigating a rape case at a graveyard in St Mary's."
In a separate incident on Sunday, a 27-year-old herdboy from Goto Village in Rusape lost US$4,000 of his employer's money in a robbery involving a mushikashika (illegal commuter vehicle) in Southley Park.
The herdboy, identified as Josphate Gadzikwa, was carrying the money on behalf of his employer, Esther Chaparanga, and intended to travel from Harare to Rusape. He boarded a white Honda Fit mushikashika with four occupants claiming to be passengers. The driver told Gadzikwa that they needed to collect a passenger's luggage and diverted towards Masvingo Road, stopping near the Skyline tollgate.
It was there that the driver drew a knife, demanding all of Gadzikwa's possessions. The other occupants, who turned out to be accomplices, also assaulted him before robbing him of the US$4,000 and a Samsung cellphone with Econet sim card number 0781041714. They fled the scene, leaving the victim lying on the roadside.
Inspector Chakanza confirmed the robbery and said investigations were underway. "Police are investigating a robbery case involving a mushikashika vehicle in Southley Park. The accused persons stole cash amounting to US$4,000 and a cellphone before fleeing towards Masvingo Road," he said.
Police have urged members of the public to avoid secluded areas and to use registered and secure transport options, especially when carrying large amounts of cash.
In the first case, a 21-year-old woman from Chitungwiza was attacked and raped by two men while she was praying at the St Mary's Mission graveyard on Saturday. The assailants, who falsely claimed to be caretakers of the graveyard, brandished a knife and threatened to kill her if she resisted.
According to police, the suspects forced the woman to a secluded part of the graveyard where they took turns raping her without protection before fleeing the scene. After the ordeal, the woman returned to her place of worship and informed her husband, who had been searching for her.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the case, stating, "Police are investigating a rape case at a graveyard in St Mary's."
The herdboy, identified as Josphate Gadzikwa, was carrying the money on behalf of his employer, Esther Chaparanga, and intended to travel from Harare to Rusape. He boarded a white Honda Fit mushikashika with four occupants claiming to be passengers. The driver told Gadzikwa that they needed to collect a passenger's luggage and diverted towards Masvingo Road, stopping near the Skyline tollgate.
It was there that the driver drew a knife, demanding all of Gadzikwa's possessions. The other occupants, who turned out to be accomplices, also assaulted him before robbing him of the US$4,000 and a Samsung cellphone with Econet sim card number 0781041714. They fled the scene, leaving the victim lying on the roadside.
Inspector Chakanza confirmed the robbery and said investigations were underway. "Police are investigating a robbery case involving a mushikashika vehicle in Southley Park. The accused persons stole cash amounting to US$4,000 and a cellphone before fleeing towards Masvingo Road," he said.
Police have urged members of the public to avoid secluded areas and to use registered and secure transport options, especially when carrying large amounts of cash.
Source - zimpapers
