Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
A 31-year-old man from Inyathi in Bubi District has appeared before the Bulawayo Regional Court cha rged with kidnapping and raping a 51-year-old woman.
Thompson Mlotshwa, of Stone Acre area, appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Mark Dzira facing charges of kidnapping or unlawful detention, as defined in Section 93(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], and rape, as defined in Section 65(1)(a) of the same Act.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until July 6 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada alleged that on October 12 last year, at around 12 noon, Mlotshwa arrived at the complainant’s home in a silver Honda Fit driven by an unidentified male who remains at large.
The court heard that Mlotshwa , accompanied by Hardlife Mugarisi and another unidentified male who is also still at large, entered the complainant’s kitchen after parking the vehicle at the gate.
Mr Mada said Mlotshwa told the complainant that he was looking for her son.
It is alleged that when he was informed that the complainant’s son was not at home, Thompson grabbed her by the hand, telling her that she would answer for her son’s alleged sins.
The accused allegedly dragged the complainant to the vehicle, forced her inside, locked the doors and instructed the driver to leave for an unknown destination.
According to the State, Mugarisi suggested that they first pass by the complainant’s husband’s workplace, prompting Mlotshwa to instruct the driver to divert to Soma Plot, where the husband was employed.
However, along the way, the vehicle developed a mechanical fault, forcing Mugarisi and the driver to continue on foot, leaving Mlotshwa alone with the complainant in the vehicle.
The court heard that Mlotshwa then ordered the complainant to get out of the vehicle and accompany him into a nearby bush, but she refused.
“It is alleged that the accused tied a rope around the complainant’s neck and threatened to kill her if she continued making noise. He then lifted her skirt, forced her onto the back seat of the vehicle and raped her once without protection and without her consent,” Mr Mada told the court.
The complainant later reported the matter to the police in Inyathi, leading to Thompson’s arrest. She was subsequently referred to Inyathi District Hospital for a medical examination.
