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Court Reporter
THE trial date for two touts accused of stripping a woman at Fourth Street (now Simon Vengai Muzenda Street) bus terminus in Harare has been set for February 2.

The magistrate Mr Milton Serima gave Blessing Chinodakufa (31) and Marvellous Kandemiri (32) their trial date after prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira said investigations were complete.

Chinodakufa and Kandemiri are in custody and police are still looking for more suspects. Chinodakufa yesterday unsuccessfully made a fresh bid for freedom.

He was referred to the High Court.

The State is alleging that Kandemiri and Chinodakufa committed the offence on December 12 last year, at Simon Vengai Muzenda Street bus terminus when they allegedly harassed the woman after she had refused to comply with their orders.

The victim was on her way from Kuwadzana to Ruwa and on reaching the Simon Vengai Muzenda Street commuter omnibus rank, Kandemiri summoned her but she refused.

He called her a prostitute and other derogatory names inciting touts to strip and humiliate her in public.

When a Good Samaritan tried to assist the woman, he was threatened by the touts. The woman only managed to escape after paying a commuter omnibus crew $2.