Rapists nabbed

Post Reporters
HUNDREDS of women and girls besieged Dangamvura Police Station on Wednesday morning baying for two suspected serial rapists’ blood after their arrest. The two are believed to be behind the reign of terror that had gripped the high-density suburb in recent months where several rape and housebreaking cases were reported. The cunning suspects who had forced every section of the suburb to reactivate neighbourhood watch committees were allegedly targeting female-headed houses.

As word spread that two of the suspects, Beston Nadholo and Norman Mutasa, had been arrested in the wee hours of Wednesday after they had mugged a kombi driver who was on his way to collect his vehicle from a night car park, women and girls flocked the police station baying for their blood.
“We were patrolling in Areas 13 and 14, at around 4am when we met the two suspects.

“We never suspected that they were up to something until when they manhandled a kombi driver and took away his jersey and a modulator. The driver was helpless, but managed to inform us what had happened. We tracked and caught them unaware at their cabin in Area 15.

“They were already sharing their stolen wares. We apprehended them and handed them over to the police. We know that man with a red T-shirt (Nadholo) very well. He has had several brushes with the law and we suspect that he must be behind the rape cases,” said one member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee, Mr Joseph Zimuto.
Residents interviewed, particularly women, quickly linked last week’s rape incident to the duo.

“A lady who resides near Nyamauru High School was last week raped by an unknown masked man and the way she described the height of the person we believe one of these guys have got something to do with it. What were they doing around that time and where were they coming from? They were caught wandering around Area 14, hardly a week after the woman (name withheld) alleged that she was raped. We strongly think that it is a cabal of perpetrators and police should not rest and leave everything up to the Neighbourhood Watch Committee members,” said a woman who requested anonymity.

Some quickly identified the two suspects as perpetrators of the rape and robberies that were occurring in the suburb frequently.
“We feel relieved even though we are not sure if they are the real perpetrators,” said one Mrs Simango of Area 13.

When the news crew visited the scene soon after their capture, the suspects had received a thorough hiding from members of the public, especially women, who said they were now living in constant fear.

Ward 9 Councillor, Clr Crispen Dube, from whose ward the suspects were arrested, said they would continue with their night patrols.
“These people have been tormenting us, especially women and girls. Everyone was now living in fear. We are continuing with the night patrols in our ward till we arrest all the suspects,” he said.

Police officers at Dangamvura Police Station had a torrid moment to control the restive residents who wanted to mete instant justice on the suspects.
The residents packed the charge office demanding the release of the suspects into their hands.

Detectives working on the rape cases, who requested anonymity, said the capture of the two suspects would help them clear some of the outstanding cases.
“With the arrest of these two we might be able to complete the jigsaw puzzle and get to the bottom of these rape cases. Night patrols had been intensified in recent weeks because of these culprits. Recently they raped a woman in the suburb. We are soon going to call all the victims and put these suspects on a parade so that those who still remember who attacked them will identify the culprits,” he said.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Enock Chishiri, said he was not at liberty to comment on the case as investigations were in progress.
“I can’t comment now. We are still to get finer details of what really transpired. Investigations are in progress,” he said.

The high prevalence of rape cases in the suburb resulted in the police going on awareness blitzkrieg informing residents to be wary of the rapists.
From the way they operated, the criminals studied their targets before they hit. They operated at the night and opened doors to several houses and raped unsuspecting complainants.