FEAR grips villagers as sex predator targets grannies

KEZI - VILLAGERS in Matobo's Nathisa area are living in fear following vicious sexual attacks on two women aged 91 and 85 years by a knife-wielding man suspected to be in his 20s. The 85-year-old woman who is visually impaired was raped about a week ago in her bedroom hut while the 91-year-old woman was raped in her kitchen hut at the weekend.

A police source said a manhunt has since been launched for the suspect who fled after committing each offence.

In the latest attack, the man walked up to the old woman's homestead on Sunday afternoon under the pretext of seeking drinking water and raped her at knife point.

Chief Malachi Masuku confirmed both incidents, which occurred in his area.

He said the unidentified man proceeded to the 91-year-old lady's homestead on Sunday afternoon and asked for water to drink.

The old woman who was alone as her grandchildren had gone to church walked to her kitchen hut to collect the water.

Chief Masuku said her attacker followed her.

"He produced a knife and ordered her to strip and lie on the ground," said the chief.

He said the old woman complied out of fear and the man raped her once and fled from the scene.

He said the old woman went to her neighbour's homestead where she reported the incident.

The chief said on November 15 the sex predator went to the visually impaired woman's homestead and found her alone in her bedroom hut.

He said her family members had gone to the fields and the stranger knocked on her door and demanded to know if she was alone. Chief Masuku said upon confirming that she was alone the assailant raped her.

Chief Masuku narrated how the old woman's grandchildren found her lying where the assailant had left her upon their return from the fields.

He said villagers have launched a manhunt of their own to catch the culprit.