Man arrested for “kidnapping” and raping ex-lover

Gibson Mhaka

A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Village 8, Dombodema, in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South province, has been arrested for reportedly kidnapping his 18-year-old ex-lover before dragging her to his residence, where he locked her in his bedroom for a number of days allegedly raping her.

For the alleged offence, Wonder Lutho Ncube appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware facing rape charges.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to October 6, 2025.

The state case, as presented by prosecutor Ms Sheila Nyathi, alleges that on September 9, 2025, at around 5PM, the complainant met the accused while on her way home.

The accused reportedly began questioning her about where she was coming from and told her that she was his wife, claiming this status because he had previously been jailed for assaulting her.

The court heard that Ncube then allegedly slapped the complainant twice on the left cheek and commanded her to accompany him to his homestead, but she resisted.

The accused then took a log and threatened to assault the complainant if she continued resisting, prompting her to comply.

It is alleged the accused took the complainant to his house, confined her to his room, and threatened to kill her if she attempted to escape.

The accused allegedly forced the complainant to stay in his bedroom from September 9, 2025, at around 6PM, up to September 13, 2025, at around 6AM.

During that period, the accused forced the complainant to have sexual intercourse with him three times on different occasions without her consent.

After allegedly releasing the complainant, the accused took her clothes and cell phone as a surety that she would return to his house but gave her some of his clothes to put on before she left.

The complainant subsequently went home and informed her grandmother that she had been at the accused’s place and that he had taken her clothes and cell phone.

On September 20, 2025, at around 8AM, the accused allegedly went to the complainant’s homestead, forcibly removed the lock on the door to gain entry, and threw the complainant’s clothes inside the sitting room before leaving.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person.

The complainant was referred to Plumtree District Hospital for further examination, and a medical report was compiled and is going to be produced in court as evidence.