adminAuxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman yesterday brought the court to tears when she narrated how she locked herself in a room together with her 36-year-old daughter while a knife wielding intruder raped her 16 year-old niece in the same house.This was heard when Paul Mafuwe, 27, of house number 30668 Entumbane appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Chris Mberewere facing three counts of rape, robbery and unlawful entry.
Testifying against Mafuwe, a tout, the complainant’s aunt (name withheld) said the accused broke into their house in the wee hours of the morning and was awakened by her niece’s scream.
“I woke up swiftly to check on what was going on and I proceeded to the sitting room where I saw the accused holding a knife, pointing at my niece.
“He instantly produced a stone and hit me forcing me to retreat to my bedroom and lock the doors fearing for my life,” she said.
The gallery roared in disbelief and the seemingly shocked magistrate asked how two grown up women could lock themselves up in a room when a juvenile was being attacked by a stranger and fail to come up with a means to protect her to which the aunt replied: “I tried calling our neighbours’ numbers but they were all not going through. Even the police numbers we were given to call in times of trouble were not reachable.”
Prosecuting, Trust Muduma told the court that at around 3AM the accused broke into the complainant’s place and raped her once.
“He force marched her to the lounge and ordered her to sit on the sofa while pointing a knife at her and went on top of her,” said Muduma.
Muduma told the court that the complainant screamed, awakening her aunt who dashed to find out what was happening and found the accused pointing a knife at her niece.
“The accused then unzipped his trousers and had sexual intercourse with the complainant without protection and demanded $100 from her,” added Muduma.
Mafuwe allegedly threatened to kill the complainant and ordered her to get the money from her aunt.
After failing to get the money, Mafuwe picked up a handbag which contained new panties before disappearing into the darkness.
The matter was reported to Entumbane Police Station and a medical examination conducted.
The court heard that later that day, the complainant boarded a commuter omnibus together with the accused who sat close to her.
The complainant identified her attacker by the woollen hat he was wearing and his body odour.
She then notified her aunt who took the vehicles’ number plate and reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and said the hat he was wearing belonged to a friend.
Mafuwe was remanded out of custody and the trial continues today.
Online Reporter