Chronicle Editor
Caroline Mutsawu, Sunday News Reporter
AN 18-year-old man from Jambezi in Hwange has appeared at the Hwange Magistrate Court on allegations of raping an 85-year-old woman.
Both the accused and the complainant are from Nyikanyolo Village 6 in Jambezi and the incident allegedly occurred sometime in June this year. Shelton Ndlovu (18) appeared before regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube on Monday and was remanded in custody to Wednesday this week for continuation of trial.
The State represented by Mr Vumizulu Mangena alleges that on 14 June at around midday, the complainant was on her way to another villager’s homestead walking along a footpath when Ndlovu grabbed her hand from behind and forced her to touch his private parts. He then left the complainant’s hand and pushed her to the ground where she fell and allegedly raped her once.
After the ordeal, the complainant proceeded to her destination and reported what had occurred. The court heard that the villagers teamed up with a member of the neighbourhood watch committee and visited the scene of the incident and observed some struggle marks as well as the accused and complainant’s foot prints.
A member of the neighbourhood watch committee and the complainant’s son then helped trace the footprints to accused’s homestead. The two met the accused’s step mother who indicated that the foot prints belonged to the accused. The complainant was referred to Victoria Falls Hospital for medical examination and a medical report will be produced in court as exhibit. — @5_Shannico
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