Vusumuzi Dube
Danisa Masuku
RESIDENTS in Nkulumane and surrounding suburbs breathed a sigh of relief after police officers arrested two suspected armed robbers who terrorised the area, allegedly raping, robbing, and attacking residents with machetes.
Acting on a tip-off, police from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) stationed at Nkulumane Police Station arrested Enock Mukumbi (26) from Gwanda and Roy Mukumbi (23) from Gokwe, who were suspected of terrorising residents in Nkulumane and surrounding areas. CID officers swiftly combed the suburb and apprehended the two men at their hideout in a house in Nkulumane suburb.
Enock and his alleged accomplice appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze last Friday, facing 10 counts, including eight of armed robbery, one of rape, and one of attempted murder.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to 24 February.
The court heard that on 11 December last year, at around 11 pm near Munyoro Shopping Centre in Nkulumane, the pair approached a 42-year-old woman, slapped her twice in the face, and stole her cellphone.
On December 26, also last year, at around 8pm, the pair confronted a 22-year-old man who was walking home. Armed with a machete, they demanded money. When he said he had none, they took his cellphone.
On 2 January, at around 7pm, a 19-year-old girl was walking home along an unnamed road in Nkulumane when the pair emerged from a dark area, slapped her, and allegedly stole her cellphone.
They then followed her on her way home. When she saw she was being pursued, she ran, and they chased her.
At her home, her aunt tried to intervene but was attacked with the handle of a machete. The pair then allegedly forced the 19-year-old girl to a nearby bush and raped her before leaving her there.
Shortly afterwards, they boarded a Honda Fit and drove to Pumula South, where they disembarked near a bridge and attacked two men, robbing them of US$45 and R48.
Later that same day, they encountered a man walking home. They grabbed him by the neck and attacked him with a machete, reportedly robbing him of US$9.
On 18 January, at around 7pm, at Tashas Shopping Centre in Pumula, they confronted a man, attacked him with a machete, and allegedly robbed him of US$51 and a cellphone before fleeing the scene.
On 8 February, at around 10pm in Nketa 6, they allegedly attacked another man walking home with a machete and robbed him of US$74.
Later that same day, at around 9pm in Nkulumane, they spotted a man and his girlfriend standing in front of a gate.
They shone a torch in their faces and demanded money, taking their cellphones and US$50 before fleeing.
Online Reporter