adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
NOTORIOUS Murambinda gay rapist’s reign of terror finally came to a screeching halt on Tuesday after police managed to flash him out from his Macheke hideout.
The alleged gay rapist, Panganai Tawangwena of Tawangwena Village in Chief Makumbe’s area of Buhera, was arrested by two police officers from Murambinda Police Station who were deployed to Macheke following a tip-off from members of the public that the fugitive had set up base in the farming community.
Police confirmed the arrest and said Tawangwena was expected to appear in court at Murambinda yesterday (Thursday) facing four counts of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and negligently causing serious bodily harm.
Aggravated indecent assault is equivalent to rape, but usually involves the sexual abuse of men.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Enock Chishiri, said Tawangwena was a fugitive from justice since 2013 after he allegedly used a police holding cell to attack and indecently assault a fellow suspect.
Insp Chishiri said on February 24, 2013, Tawangwena was arrested on unlawful entry charges and was detained in the same cell with a 30-year-old complainant (name withheld), from Ndongwe Village in Chief Nyashanu’s area.
“While he was detained in the same cell with the complainant, Tawangwena took advantage of the situation to attack and have anal sexual intercourse with him without his consent. A report was made to the police, but Tawangwena later absconded and has been a fugitive since that time,” he said.
While police were busy looking for him, Tawangwena was busy quenching his sexual desires on other men and allegedly caused sleepless nights to fellow villagers especially around Murambinda area.
In the second count of indecent assault, Tawangwena is alleged to have fondled a 25-year-old complainant (name withheld) from Chengetai Village in Chief Makumbe’s area while he was taking a bath at Mwerihari River at Murambinda Growth Point.
“On September 15, a complainant was taking a bath at Mwerihari River when the accused approached him from behind.
“He grabbed him and proceeded to fondle him without his consent.
“A report was made to the police, but Tawangwena remained elusive,” he said.
Insp Chishiri said in the third count of aggravated incident assault, Tawangwena attacked a 19-year-old teenager (name withheld) from Tawangwena Village, Chief Makumbe’s area of Buhera.
“On August 31, 2014, the complainant was taking a bath at Mwerihari River when Tawangwena approached him from behind and had anal sexual intercourse without his consent.
“Again a report was made to the police and he remained on the run,” said Insp Chishiri.
In count four of negligently causing serious bodily farm, Insp Chishiri, said Tawangwena allegedly tried to rape a 15-year-old teenager from the same village who was fetching firewood in a nearby mountain on September 28.
“He tried to rape the teenager, but she managed to run away screaming thereby drawing the attention of her mother.
“As the teenager was running away, she fell down, but her mother was quick to react and saved her daughter.
“We hope Tawangwena’s arrest will help us to clear some of the indecent assault cases committed in and around Murambinda area.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have fallen victim to Tawangwena’s acts of aggravated indecent assault to approach Murambinda Police Station and make reports as well as identify the suspect,” said Insp Chishiri.
Online Reporter