Gang of five attempts to rape a policewoman

FIVE Bulawayo men allegedly attacked three cops at a police base, stripped one of them and attempted to rape her before robbing the trio of $80.

Two of the assailants, Mbonisi Moyo (31) and Edmore Moyo (30) both of Old Pumula Suburb yesterday pleaded not guilty to robbery and attempted rape.

Thumani Sibanda and Bhekimpilo Khumalo have already been convicted of the offence while another gang member, Menzi Dube is still at large.

Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya remanded the duo in custody to November 9 for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto said the gang of five approached the cops on February 26 at around 1AM as they manned a police base near Amakhosi Cultural Village.

"The accused persons alleged that they wanted to report a robbery that had occurred at corner Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue and Lobengula Street. They advised the complainants to light their torches since it was dark. They further asked them to take their fire arms since their alleged assailants were armed," said Mr Hondoyemoto.

He said upon realising that the police officers had no guns and their lighting was poor, they drew okapi knives and two sets of handcuffs before attacking them.

"One of the officers ran out of the tent and Mbonisi chased him. As they wrestled, Edmore came wielding an okapi knife which he used to cut the officer's pocket. He took $20 and a Huawei cellphone. The officer managed to break loose and fled towards Makokoba Township."

Mr Hondoyemoto further alleged that Sibanda and Khumalo dragged the female officer to a thicket at a nearby drainage ditch.

They threatened to stab her if she screamed and ordered her to remove her anti-riot police trousers but she refused.

"The two accused had already lowered their shorts and underwear to knee level. They assaulted the complainant using a log claiming that they would kill her if she kept refusing to comply. Edmore approached the three and tried to throttle the officer with a stick. He stole $5 from her pocket and snatched her necklace."

Mr Hondoyemoto told the court that the third officer managed to flee and called the mother station which dispatched a dog section squad and managed to arrest Sibanda and Khumalo at the scene where they were still trying to rape the officer.

Dube, Edmore and Mbonisi escaped.

An okapi knife and a size eight shoe belonging to Khumalo were recovered at the scene.