Zimpapers Logo

Crime Reporter

Ritual beliefs have reportedly turned a Harare man into a serial rapist who went on a four-month reign of terror in Harare’s Glen View and Budiriro suburbs where he sexually attacked at least 16 minor girls.

In what is turning out to be one of the biggest rape and sexual assault cases in recent times, the knife-wielding suspect broke into several houses between September last year and this week where he threatened to harm the girls before raping them or at least sexually molesting them.

Apart from sexually attacking the minor girls, the suspect would also steal gas tanks, cellphones and other household items after committing the rape offences.

Residents in the two suburbs and surrounding areas were now living in perpetual fear of the suspect whose infamous raping spree was brought to an abrupt end when police arrested him in the capital yesterday.

The suspect has now been linked to 14 cases which occurred in Glen View and two others in Budiriro since September last year.

To heighten suspicion that he was doing it for ritual purposes, the man would first ask his victims if they had been sexually intimate with another man before. If the answer was in the negative, he would proceed to rape the minors and if it was in the affirmative, he would only molest the victim and leave.

His arrest comes after police in Harare recently warned residents that there was a serial rapist on the loose in these areas.

Following investigations, the suspect, whose name is still being withheld for fear of jeopardising the probe and to protect the victims, was arrested yesterday morning at Churu Farm near Glen View 1.

He is understood to have raped girls aged between seven and 14 at Churu Farm, Glen View and Dare Rechimurenga housing section of Budiriro.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest saying investigations were still in progress.

“There is a suspect that has been picked up and is currently being interviewed. So far he has cleared about two rape cases. However, we can’t conclusively say he has been linked to 16 rape cases or not as investigations are still continuing,” he said.

He said they were yet to interview other victims and also to conduct an identification parade as part of the ongoing investigations.

However, in a statement last week, Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that they were looking for the suspect saying by that time, they had received five similar rape reports.

“Police have noted with concern, the number of rape cases involving a man targeting minor children for the past month. The similarities of the cases in how the perpetrator breaks into houses and rapes minor children shows that it could be the same person.

“In the latest five cases recorded, the perpetrator broke into houses, threatened the girls and asked if they had engaged in any sexual activities before.

“If the girls say no, he raped them and then fled,” he said.

Insp Chakanza then appealed for information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Last week, a Domboshawa man, who was also allegedly raping victims without protection before robbing them appeared in court.

Goodwill Mhandu 21, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje facing rape and robbery charges.

He was remanded in custody to March 3 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The State said sometime in November last year, Mhandu armed with a machete and iron bar, broke into Joina City Tuckshop in Domboshava where the complainant was sleeping.

Mhandu, who is HIV positive, according to the State’s papers, reportedly tied her hands and legs before raping her three times without protection after threatening to chop off her head with the machete.

Allegations are that after raping her, he ransacked the tuckshop and stole US$150, $5 000, groceries and two cellphones.

It is alleged that Mhandu packed the goods into plastic bags and the complainant’s black satchel and disappeared into the night.

According to the State, on January 26 last year, Mhandu also broke into another shop in Domboshawa and grabbed the lady who works there by the collar before pulling out a knife and demanding cash.

He allegedly handcuffed and ordered her to surrender the shop keys before forcing her into the shop. He tied her legs with a rope before raping her twice without protection.

The State also alleged that he opened the cash box and stole US$500, $2 000 and two cellphones.

On January 6, this year, he allegedly broke into another complainant’s house armed with an axe and a machete.

He allegedly ordered her to remain silent or he would kill her.

Mhandu allegedly stole US$6 from her wallet and assaulted her demanding more money. He further went on to rape her four times before packing her groceries into a bag and fleeing.

Mhandu was arrested after a tip-off.