Woman robbed, raped in cemetery

in court facing rape and robbery charges last week.
Tinashe Charuka (33), who was armed with a knife at the time of his arrest, also threatened to stab the police officers. It is alleged Charuka followed the 18-year-old woman who was going to town around 5am and dragged her into a cemetery where he raped her. He allegedly stole the woman’s handbag and ordered her to runaway without looking back. He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Mr Morgan Nemadire who advised him to apply for bail at the High Court due to the gravity of his offence. He was remanded in custody to August 11 for interim remand. Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza alleges that on June 6 this year, the woman was on her way to town from Mbare when Charuka suddenly appeared from behind. The woman tried to run away but Charuka gave chase threatening to kill her. Charuka, the State says, dragged the woman into a cemetery and stuffed a cloth into her mouth to stop her from screaming.
He raped her once without using protection, it is alleged. Charuka allegedly ordered the woman to dress up and run away without looking back. The woman, the court heard, went straight to Harare Central Police Station and made a report. Charuka was later arrested near Simon Mazorodze flyover as police were conducting patrols. The woman identified him at an identification parade.