peterAxe wielding Shangani rapist jailed for 12 years
A MAN from Shangani, Insiza District has been sentenced to 12 years for raping and assaulting an 18-year-old girl on several occasions until he impregnated her.
Smart Mpofu (21), who was facing two counts of rape and assault, pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Rose Dube last week.
Mpofu was, however, found guilty and sentenced to 12 years plus six months in prison for rape and assault respectively, of which four years were suspended for five years on condition that accused does not commit similar offences.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Ms Patience Dube, sometime in November last year, the complainant was going to fetch water at a borehole and along the way she met Mpofu who blocked her way.
On the day in question Mpofu was carrying an axe and demanded to be intimate with the complainant before threatening to kill her if she refused.
He raped her while carrying the axe.
He raped the complainant twice on different occasions.
On the assault charge, the court heard that during the same month of November, Mpofu invaded the complainant’s homestead and assaulted her after she refused to get intimate with him.
The complaint was left with severe injuries on her hand and left foot.
The matter was reported to the Shangani police, leading to Mpofu’s arrest.
In his defence, Mpofu told the court that the rape charges were being falsely levelled against him because he owed the complainant’s mother US$5. – Thembekile Ntuliki
Armed robbers get away with 90kgs of second hand clothes
A MAN from Old Pumula in Bulawayo has been arrested after stealing a 90kg sack of clothes from his neighbour.
Raymond Mhlanga (25) last week appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja facing theft charges.
He was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment of which three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Another three months were suspended on the condition he gives the complainant of US$105.
Prosecuting, Ms Melisa Dube told the court that on 19 April at around 9pm, Joshua Chiradza (22) from B5538 Old Pumula arrived at the gate of his residence in the company of Nyasha Kugwa.
Mhlanga, who was in the company of three other men, approached Chiradza armed with knives and demanded all valuables.
Kugwa ran away leaving behind the sack of second-hand clothes consisting of 20 bomber jackets and 38 chino trousers.
Chiradza sought assistance from fellow residents and chased after Mhlanga, who had taken the sack of clothes.
Along the way, he dropped 11 bomber jackets and 19 chinos trousers.
The matter was reported to the police.
The value of stolen property is US$205 and the value of the recovered property is US$100. – Angel Nkomo
Man jailed for violating protection order
A 27-year-old man from Entumbane in Bulawayo has been dragged to court for violating a peace order.
Sibangani Dingani Ncube last week appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja where he was found guilty and sentenced to three months imprisonment or to pay a restitution of R1 500 before 8 July.
According to the State outline, presented by Ms Melisa Dube, Ncube violated a protection order issued at Western Commonage Court which barred him from entering Collen Mukanya’s place of residence.
The order was issued in 2018.
The court heard that in defying the protection order, Ncube went to Mukanya’s premises and took a jacket from the washing line.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of Ncube.
The value of stolen property is R1 500 and nothing was recovered. – Angel Nkomo
Online Reporter