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Crime Reporter

A suspected serial robber and rapist who allegedly attacked nearly 20 women before escaping from Harare Remand Prison, allegedly with the help of two prison warders, before being recaptured, is now facing 40 more armed robbery cases.

Last month, Sam Muropa (31) was jailed for an effective four years for escaping from lawful custody.

Muropa of Kuwadzana in Harare, was initially jailed for five years when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Barbara Mateko, who suspended a year of his sentence on condition he did not commit a similar offence.

The one year will be added to whatever sentence imposed on him in future for similar offences. Muropa allegedly sexually assaulted the women after offering them lifts around Harare. He was convicted on his own plea of guilty, but implicated prison officers Ngonidzashe Munhuuripi and Simbarashe Machekera who allegedly abetted his escape.

The duo has since appeared in court on charges of aiding a prisoner to escape from lawful custody. They were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi, who denied them bail.

The pair is now languishing in Harare Remand Prison where they are employed.

Muropa is now serving his four-year sentence in another prison.

Police investigations have revealed that Muropa committed at least 40 armed robbery and rape cases around Harare.

The CID Homicide is preparing the dockets for Muropa so that he will appear in court soon. On August 16 this year, Muropa appeared before the same court on allegations of robbing and raping nearly 20 women, with eight of them having positively identified him when he was placed before an identification parade by police.

Upon his arrest, Muropa, alias Gunners, was allegedly found in possession of a Military Police identity card in the name of Thilli Adnico and Zimbabwe National Army identity card belonging to Elate Mutembedza.

He was also found with two cars that he was suspected to be using in his attacks on women.

The State led by Mr Anesu Chirenje alleges that on July 27, Muropa and his three accomplices who are still at large, picked up a woman in the city centre, robbed her of US$600 before dumping her near Chikurubi Prison Farm.

Two days later, Muropa and his team robbed another woman of US$20 and a cellphone in Ardbernnie and drove her to Mukuvisi River where they dumped her.

On July 30, Muropa and his gang are alleged to have picked a woman in Granary, Harare, and drove her to Nharira Farm where they allegedly raped her and robbed her of US$750 and other valuables.

On their way back from Nharira Farm, they picked up another woman whom they threatened to kill with a knife if she raised alarm and they drove to a bushy area near Whitehouse Shopping Centre.

They asked her if she was HIV positive before sexually assaulting her. They then allegedly stole her valuables worth US$170.

On August 1, they robbed another woman whom they undressed and shoved out of their car after robbing her of valuables worth US$200. On August 6, Muropa and his team robbed yet another woman in Kuwadzana, with one of them sexually assaulting her.

The court heard that they used the same method on other women they allegedly robbed and raped between August 16 and 17.

The court heard that Muropa bought an Audi A4 car from the proceeds of his string of robberies.