Zimbabwe Law Enforcement Officers on the Docks for Rape
…threaten to shoot, knife and kill victim if she talked
By Delicious Mathuthu
Beitbridge, Zimbabwe – Three Zimbabwe Republic Police officers stationed at Chitulipasi Post Camp Quarters in Beitbridge, have been arraigned before the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court on allegations of raping an 18-year-old woman on different occasions.
The three officers, who have been identified as
Jabulani Museba (33), Courage Majoni (32) and Enock Nyamupandu (35), appeared before the Beitbridge Regional Magistrate on Tuesday (09/07/2024).
The three rape incidents allegedly occured between the 5th and 13th of June 2024.
Allegations, confirmed by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, are that the 18-year-old rape victim had visited her Aunt at the Police camp from Bulawayo, unknowing the horrors awaiting her.
According to the prosecution, the first accused officer, Museba, allegedly raped the complainant on June 5, 2024 at around 6pm, while she was bathing.
Armed with a riffle, he allegedly sneaked into the bath room, grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth, pushed her to the ground before raping her once.
Museba allegedly threatened to shoot her if she disclosed the rape to her aunt, and she never did.
On the second incident, about three days later (08/06/2024) and almost in a similar manner, the second accused officer, Majoni, waited for her to go and take a bath before sneaking in.
He allegedly grabbed her by the neck, covered her mouth with his hand, threatened to kill her before raping her once.
On the third incident about five days later, on the 13th of June 2024 at around 2 pm, the third accused officer, Nyamupandu, allegedly raped her at knife point.
She was home alone when Nyamupandu allegedly called her to collect some plates.
When the complainant entered the room he immediately closed the door, took a kitchen knife, pushed her to the ground, stripped her before raping her once at knife point.
He also threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident.
The three were remanded in custody to the 23rd of July for trial.
The matter came to light when the complainant returned to Bulawayo and confided in her mother, on the 29th of June 2024, leading to the arrest of the suspect officers.