Pair accused of aiding four rape, rob Epworth woman

crime. The two women are still on the run.
They reportedly pounced on the woman after she got out of her house to investigate the origins of the noise that was being made by the assailants.
The four pleaded guilty to robbery, but denied the rape and indecent assault charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Rogers Kachambwa. They were all remanded in custody to October 15.
Prosecutor Mr Allan Goche alleged that on September 17 and at around midnight, the woman was asleep in her house when she heard noise outside.
She went outside to investigate and allegedly saw four men who were in the company of two women, the court heard.
Mugabe, the court heard, grabbed the woman and the other five started assaulting her. They allegedly gagged her mouth and force-marched her to a secluded area, a distance away from the house in the company of their female companions.
The woman was then placed under the care of Mugabe and Chiwara, while Zava and Chatindo left with their female companions to the victim’s house where they looted her property.
While the other four were stealing the woman’s property, Chiwara undressed the woman and raped her.
She managed to escape after the rape and went home where she found Chatindo, Zava and the two women stealing her property.
The suspects loaded the loot in a car that arrived a few minutes later and sped off. They made off with property that included a 21-inch television set, five blankets, a pair of black jean trousers, two DVDs, US$500 and an assortment of other goods. Police received a tip-off that Zava was selling a television set, which prompted them to raid his house. This led to the arrest of Mugabe, Chiwara and Chatindo.