Mini-skirt attack sparks demo
Human rights activists demonstrate at the Harare Magistrates Courts in Harare yesterday against touts who stripped a woman recently at the Fourth Street Bus Terminus. - (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Human rights activists demonstrate at the Harare Magistrates Courts in Harare yesterday against touts who stripped a woman recently at the Fourth Street Bus Terminus. – (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Court Reporter
THE Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth league and human rights activists yesterday staged a demonstration at the Harare Magistrates Courts against touts who allegedly stripped a woman at the Fourth Street commuter omnibus terminus recently.

Led by Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth league deputy secretary for information and publicity Cde Tendai Wenyika and MDC-T legislator Jessie Majome, the placard-waving demonstrators condemned touts for their unbecoming behaviour.

A suspect, Marvellous Kandemiri (32), is facing indecent assault charges.

He was denied bail and was remanded to January 12.

The prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira opposed bail saying granting the tout freedom would not send the right message to would-be offenders.

Kandemiri’s lawyer, Mr Nathaniel Chigoro unsuccessfully argued that his client was a suitable candidate for bail as he was innocent until proven guilty.

The magistrate Mr Milton Serima wondered if Kandemiri and his accomplices, who are still at large, were sober when they committed the offence.

“Given the circumstances, one wonders if these people were in sober senses, they appeared to be under the influence of something. They relegated the woman to a useless idol. Their behaviour leaves a lot to be desired,” he said.

“It appears evidence against him is quite overwhelming, thereby making the State’s case strong. In my view if granted bail, the accused is likely to abscond or team up with his alleged accomplices who are still at large. Therefore it would not be in the interest of justice to grant him bail.”

The State is alleging that Kandemiri committed the offence on December 12 at Fourth Street when he allegedly harassed the woman after she had refused to comply with his orders.

The woman was on her way from Kuwadzana to Ruwa and on reaching the Fourth Street commuter omnibus rank, Kandemiri summoned the woman but she refused.

He labelled her a prostitute and invited his friends.

The touts went on to strip the woman.

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.

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