Gibson Mhaka
TENS of thousands of rape cases are reported in Zimbabwe every year, but some stand out for being deeply disturbing.
In one particularly shocking case, two young men, aged 23 and 21, allegedly broke into a 76-year-old’s bedroom, assaulted her mercilessly before they throttled her and allegedly took turns to rape her for long hours. They also subjected the granny’s two grandchildren to a violent attack as punishment for trying to disturb them. The children then fled the bedroom in terror.
Exhausted, one of them left the bedroom, leaving his accomplice behind. The accomplice continued to abuse the granny, forcing her to perform different sexual positions for his pleasure until she pleaded for mercy. After pleading that she was tired, he forced the granny to sleep on top of him. Then, he fell asleep and began to snore. Seizing the opportunity, the granny gently pushed him aside and bolted from the bedroom. She dashed to her neighbour and narrated her ordeal. The neighbour, in turn, teamed up with others, and together they apprehended the suspect, who was still asleep.
The sorry case was heard when Lungile Ndebele (23) and Musa Ndlovu (21) from Sikhulu Village, Ezimnyama area in Plumtree, Matabeleland South Province recently appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate Joshua Nembaware charged with rape.
Circumstances are that on 28 May at around midnight, Ndebele and Ndlovu arrived at the victim’s homestead and proceeded to her bedroom, where she was sleeping with her two grandchildren. Upon arrival, Ndlovu forced open the closed window and entered the bedroom with his accomplice.
While inside, both accused persons assaulted the victim several times with their bare hands on the face because she was not complying with their instructions. They also choked her, trying to force her onto the bed. The victim cried for help, and the noise woke up her two grandchildren.
One of the grandchildren then switched on the electric light. Startled, Ndebele assaulted the grandchild. The grandchildren managed to escape through the door and ran to their neighbour’s homestead. There, they informed the neighbour that their grandmother was being attacked by the two alleged rapists.
Ndlovu then ordered the granny to lie on the bed and allegedly had unprotected sex with her once without her consent. After raping her, he got off the bed, making room for Ndebele who also went on to rape her. After that, Ndebele left the room and went to his place.
Ndlovu remained and continued to abuse the granny repeatedly. She begged him to leave her telling him that she was like his grandmother, but he ignored her pleas. The victim, tired of the abuse, complained to her attacker, who then stopped.
He then lay down on the bed, facing upwards. He instructed the victim to lie on top of him, facing downwards and she complied. After a while, he fell asleep and began snoring. The victim, leaving the accused asleep, went to her neighbour’s homestead. She found her neighbour on the way with her grandchildren and recounted what had happened to her. She also mentioned leaving one of the alleged rapists still in the house.
Accompanied by other villagers, they went to the victim’s house. They found Ndlovu still asleep inside and apprehended him. He then revealed the whereabouts of his accomplice. The villagers promptly took both men to the police, leading to their arrest.
