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Michelle Gwizi, Court Reporter
TWO men from Bulawayo have appeared in court accused of gang raping a 17-year-old girl and robbing her.
Sydney Kamanga (20) of Kusile Flats in Makokoba and Sunboy Moyo (19) who resides along Thorn Road in Matsheumhlophe appeared before Bulawayo Regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla on Tuesday.
The duo pleaded not guilty to rape and robbery charges.
The magistrate remanded them in custody for continuation of trial.
The court heard that a third unnamed person, who allegedly committed the crime with them, is still at large.
The prosecutor, Mr Jethro Mada, alleged that on September 23 this year in the evening, the complainant was walking along a foot path between 9th Street in Suburbs and Kumalo Flats where she met three men who pretended to be asking for directions.
Kamanga, Moyo and their accomplice surrounded the complainant pretending to be seeking directions and produced knives. Kamanga pointed the knife at the complainant’s face while Moyo tied a cloth over the complainant’s mouth and carried her to a nearby tree in a bushy area.
“Moyo undressed the complainant and had sex with the complainant without her consent and without protection.
“They allegedly robbed her of three cell phones and some money. The complainant screamed for help and the robbers fled. When they were running, they dropped one of the complainant’s phones,” Mr Mada said.
Testifying in court, the complainant said the three men surrounded her.
“One forcibly held me from behind as the other was threatening to kill me, ordering me not to make noise. The three lifted me up, one holding me by my arms while the other two held my feet.
“They undressed me and took turns to rape me,” she said shedding tears.
“Afterwards, I dressed up and ran towards Kumalo flats. I jumped a security fence and approached four unknown women who were at the flats.
“I narrated the incident to them. The women contacted the police who hunted for the robbers but could not find them”.
On the next day Kamanga was picked up by the police for questioning and the complainant positively identified him.
He allegedly admitted to the police that he robbed the teenager but denied raping her.
Kamanga later implicated Moyo leading to his arrest.
Total value stolen is $60.
— @gwizi_n.
Online Reporter