Mshikashika Crew Rape 2 Ladies At Mbare Cemetery

Zimbabwean News You Can Trust

Two unidenfitied men allegedly robbed and roped two ladies who are based in Harare’s Avondale suburb, where they are employed as housemaids.

The alleged offense took place at Mbare cemetery.

The victims allegedly boarded a mushikashika vehicle in town, intending to travel to their respective homes for their weekend time off, last week Friday.

According to a report made to the police, the two victims, who work at different houses as housemaids in Avondale suburb, knocked off duty on May 24, and the employer of one of the victims drove them to town to drop them off so that they look for lifts to go to their respective places in Epworth and Glenview.

Upon arriving in town, the victims waited for someone who had their money, and moments after receiving it, they allegedly boarded a Nissan Caravan vehicle heading to the first victim’s home in Glenview.

Inside the caravan were four occupants, consisting of one male driver and three other women seated as passengers. Upon getting to Simon Mazorodze Road, the driver allegedly stopped the vehicle and parked on the side of the road near Pioneer Cemetery.

The driver allegedly opened the passengers’ door, and another unknown male adult mysteriously appeared from the cemetery. The duo allegedly dragged the two victims out of the vehicle and forced them into the middle of the cemetery, where they allegedly robbed them of USD15, cellphones before raping them.

It is alleged that one of assailants had protected sex with one of the victims, whilst the other suspect chose to have unprotected sex with his victim. After the alleged offense, the two suspects ran away and disappeared into the dark, leaving the victims stranded in the middle of the cemetery.

The two ladies later walked towards Simon Mazorodze Road, where they met with a well wisher who took them to Mbare Police Station, and the case was reported. The victims were later taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital for medical examinations.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Harare provincial spokesperson Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the incident and said investigations are underway.

“The complainants are employed as housemaids by different employers in Avondale, Harare. Both of them had knocked off duty on the day the offense was committed, and intended to go to their respective homes in Epworth and Glenview for a weekend time off. On 24 May 2024, around 2100 hours, complainant 2 knocked off duty and she was driven to town by her employer together with her aunt complainant number one, who works at a neighboring house in Avondale so that they could board vehicles home.

“The complainants were dropped in town and waited for someone on other welfare issues until around 0000 hours on 25 May 2024. When the complainants were done with their welfare issues, they boarded a white Nissan Caravan, intending to go to complainant 1’s homestead for the night together. Inside the vehicle were four occupants, comprising of one male driver and three female adults.

“Upon reaching Pioneer Cemetery along Simon Mazorodze Road, the vehicle was stopped by the road side. The driver opened the door, and one other male adult appeared from the cemetery. The accused persons grabbed the complainants by their hands and forced them into the cemetery. Upon reaching the midst of the cemetery, the accused persons searched the two complainants and took away an Itel P56 cellphone and cash US$11-00 from complainant 1.

“The accused persons also took away an Itel P56 cellphone and cash US$5-00 from complainant 2 two. The accused persons threatened to kill the complainants if they screamed or resisted their demands. The accused persons then raped the two complainants once at the same time. Complainant 1 was raped without protection and complainant 2 with protection.

“After the rape, the accused persons went away, leaving the two complainants in the cemetery area. The two complainants walked back into Simon Mazorodze Road, where they were assisted by a well wisher who took them to ZRP Kopje. The two complainants were then escorted to ZRP Mbare where a report was made,” said Inspector Chakanza.