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Senior Court Reporter

ONE of the four suspected armed robbers who were arrested following a shoot-out with the police in Harare on Wednesday, allegedly raped one of the victims, forced her mother to perform oral sex on him, before defecating in a bucket of mealie meal during a robbery in 2019.

Abel Marufu Mukandawire (40) of Unit J, Seke in Chitungwiza, is alleged to have been one of the seven people who robbed the family of a Mercedes Benz vehicle into which they loaded property they had stolen from the victims before driving off.

Mukandawire, yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera charged with robbery, rape and aggravated indecent assault.

He was not asked to plead to the charges and was remanded in custody to August 30.

Mr Kubonera advised Mukandawire to approach the High Court for bail application.

Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti said on October 6, 2019, Mukandawire teamed up with Francis Hazangure, Blessing Gamanya, Edmore Marwizi Mapuranga, Roy Mutemagazi and Kudakwashe Choga armed with weapons and went to the victim’s house at around midnight. 

They gained entry into the house after breaking the kitchen door and woke up the complainants before they force-marched them into the lounge where they ordered them to lie facing downwards.

The court heard that Mukandawire took the girl to the bathroom where he allegedly raped her.

Mr Mutsokoti alleged that some of Mukandawire’s accomplices took the girl’s mother to a storeroom where one of them inserted his fingers into her privates.

Mukandawire is alleged to have followed into the storeroom where he forced the girl’s mother to perform oral sex on him.

The robbers allegedly stole cellphones, US$4 110, $700 and other household property which they loaded into the family’s car and drove off.

Mukandawire also appeared before the same court jointly charged with Edmore Marwizi Mapuranga on another count of armed robbery.

The two allegedly robbed a butchery and got away with US$70, $700 and other valuables on July 28.

On June 19 this year, the duo allegedly stormed a house in Harare and went away with various items and US$800.

On the same day, Mukandawire and Mapuranga allegedly robbed Vincent Matsika of his Jaguar XF and valuables all worth US$32 800.

Blessing Gamanya and Francis Hazangure, who are part of the armed robbery gang, were separately charged from their hospital beds after being shot in a gun fire  exchange with the police.

 They are all in custody and expected to be back in court on August 30.