GANG-RAPED IN CAR

Talent Gore

POLICE in Harare are hunting for three unknown male suspects, accused of gang-raping a 20-year-old woman in Greendale.

They had given her a lift from Kamunhu Shopping Centre in Mabvuku.

Harare Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the incident and warned the public against boarding unlicensed motor vehicles.

“On 10 July 2022, at around 6pm, the three male adult suspects were moving in an unregistered black Honda Fit before picking the complainant at Kamunhu Shopping Centre Bus Terminus,” he said.

“Somewhere near Kamfinsa Shops, on their way to town via Arcturus Road, the driver claimed that the motor vehicle had run out of fuel, prompting him to drive to a nearby friend’s house in Greendale where he left it.

“He took another one, a Honda Fit too, without registration plates.

“On approaching a certain unidentified junction, the vehicle allegedly pulled off the road and the accused persons started sexually abusing the complainant.”

Insp Chikanza said it all started when one of the accused persons seated at the back fondled the complainant’s breasts, tore her bra and stripped her before having unprotected sexual intercourse with her once.

“She could not scream because her mouth was kept shut by the other accused person at the back,” he said.

“Afterwards, all the three accused persons took turns in having unprotected sexual intercourse with the complainant, without her consent, inside the car.

“After the heinous acts, the trio tore the complainant’s clothes, drove for a few kilometres with her and dumped her at some disused property in the Greendale area before they sped off.”

He said the police attended to the report and the complainant was referred to hospital for medical assistance.

Insp Chakanza said the case is under investigation and police are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits.

“We urge commuters to use public transport and avoid hiking with private vehicles, worse still without number plates,” he said.

“Cases of women and men being sexually abused in private vehicles are on the increase with criminals seemingly taking advantage of the commuters’ desperation for transport to prey on them.”