News / National
University student 'drugged, raped'
22 Nov 2013 at 20:07hrs | Views
POLICE in Gweru have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly drugging a first year student at the Midlands State University before raping her several times during the night.
The man, Ashley Matemera, is believed to be part of a loose gang targeting female MSU students.
The gang reportedly takes them to Gweru city night spots for drinks before allegedly drugging and raping them.
In the incident involving Matemera, the complainant, a student from Bulawayo, passed out while at a night spot in the Gweru Central Business District only to wake up the following morning sharing a bed with Matemera.
She reported the matter to Senga Police Station.
Police spokesperson for Midlands Province Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday said: "I can confirm that police in Gweru are investigating an alleged rape case in which a student at MSU woke up and discovered that she was sleeping with a stranger after she passed out while drinking beer at a city night spot the previous night."
A police source close to the investigations told Chronicle yesterday that the syndicate, comprising another suspect only identified as Dzatu, was taking advantage of fun-loving MSU students to take them out before drugging them.
"The syndicate which drives top-of-the-range cars takes the female students out for beer drinks. They then drug the unsuspecting students, rape them before taking them back to the college," said the police officer.
A parent to the victim yesterday told Chronicle that he had to drive from Bulawayo to Gweru after he received a call from his daughter that she had been drugged and raped.
The parent said they had since taken his daughter to a doctor and the tests revealed that she was indeed raped.
Meanwhile, Matemera appeared before Gweru magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ncube on Thursday for initial remand.
He was not asked to plead to the rape charge and was remanded in custody to Wednesday.
The man, Ashley Matemera, is believed to be part of a loose gang targeting female MSU students.
The gang reportedly takes them to Gweru city night spots for drinks before allegedly drugging and raping them.
In the incident involving Matemera, the complainant, a student from Bulawayo, passed out while at a night spot in the Gweru Central Business District only to wake up the following morning sharing a bed with Matemera.
She reported the matter to Senga Police Station.
Police spokesperson for Midlands Province Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday said: "I can confirm that police in Gweru are investigating an alleged rape case in which a student at MSU woke up and discovered that she was sleeping with a stranger after she passed out while drinking beer at a city night spot the previous night."
"The syndicate which drives top-of-the-range cars takes the female students out for beer drinks. They then drug the unsuspecting students, rape them before taking them back to the college," said the police officer.
A parent to the victim yesterday told Chronicle that he had to drive from Bulawayo to Gweru after he received a call from his daughter that she had been drugged and raped.
The parent said they had since taken his daughter to a doctor and the tests revealed that she was indeed raped.
Meanwhile, Matemera appeared before Gweru magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ncube on Thursday for initial remand.
He was not asked to plead to the rape charge and was remanded in custody to Wednesday.
Source - Chronicle
