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Emily Mbewe Court Reporter—
AN axe-wielding rapist who spread terror at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) was yesterday told he faces a lengthy spell in prison after being convicted of sexual assaults on two students. Brighton Nkomo, 34, of New Magwegwe in Bulawayo, ambushed the two women in 2012 and 2013 as they walked towards the university campus and dragged them into the bush where he raped and then robbed them.
Police investigators believe Nkomo could be linked to more crimes reported close to the university, which has an enrolment of 8,000 students.
Prosecutors said they were checking records after learning that Nkomo has previously done time for sexual assault. Bulawayo regional magistrate Collet Ncube will have sight of Nkomo’s criminal record before his sentencing hearing on January 22.
Trust Muduma, prosecuting, told the court that Nkomo first raped a 22-year-old student in 2012, before a sickening sex attack on his second victim aged 20 a year later.
The first victim, who was then aged 22, took the witness stand yesterday and told how her life changed forever shortly after 7AM on November 22, 2012.
The victim, who was walking on a footpath from Killarney suburb to attend lectures at the university – about 3km away – said she saw Nkomo approaching from behind.
When he caught up with her, they allegedly had a conversation about water problems as she thought he was a Nust student.
But suddenly, she testified, Nkomo grabbed her neck and dragged her into the bush, picking up a stone on the way which he used to threaten her.
When she refused to undress as ordered, the court heard, he hit her with the stone on the back of her hands, forehead and chest.
Nkomo soon overpowered the student, got on top of her and removed her clothes before raping her.
After the attack, the court heard, Nkomo violently seized the student’s mobile phone and some money.
The terrified student informed the university’s security guards who called in the cops as terror gripped the university’s female students, many of whom live in private accommodation in suburbs around the university which has limited student residencies.
Months later, on April 12, 2013, Muduma said a 20-year-old student — who testified when the trial opened last year — was walking through the same wooded area at around 10.30AM when Nkomo — armed with an axe — suddenly grabbed her by the neck and ordered her not to scream.
Nkomo, the court heard, ordered her to sit down and surrender her mobile phone and all the money she had.
He then pushed the woman into the bush using his axe and instructed her to remove her clothes and lie on the ground. He raped her once after closing her face with a polo neck jersey.
Nkomo disappeared into the woods soon after the attack as his victim fled back home in terror. Her sister and uncle immediately called the police.
Police appeared to have hit a dead end with their investigation, the court heard, until sometime last year when the first victim saw her attacker in the same commuter omnibus travelling towards town near the School of Mines, close to Nust.
She alerted another female passenger and the two hatched a plan to tell the omnibus conductor once they arrived in town.
Upon disembarking, the trial heard, the victim told the conductor that Nkomo had stolen her mobile phone and asked them to drive to a police station. Nkomo, confident he had not stolen a phone, readily agreed but got the shock of his life when the victim finally told cops the truth about his crime.
Nkomo was picked out by his second victim at an identity parade.
Yesterday, magistrate Ncube said the evidence against Nkomo had been compelling and consistent as he found him guilty of rape which carries a lengthy jail term.
Nkomo, given a chance to address the court, insisted he was the “victim of mistaken identity”. He had pleaded not guilty.
Online Reporter