A Bulawayo man has appeared in court facing four counts of rape after allegedly targeting stranded women by offering to help them find transport before luring them to a bushy area behind Mpilo Central Hospital, where he sexually assaulted them.
Alphios Chitsa (42) appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Taurai Manuwere on Tuesday and was not asked to plead to the charges.
Prosecutor Concilia Ncube told the court that the first incident occurred on February 11 at around 9pm. The complainant was walking along Luveve Road from the old bus terminus, popularly known as Renkini, in search of transport to Lobengula West.
“The accused approached the complainant and offered to help carry her sack of green mealies. He told her he was also looking for transport and suggested they walk together to Emachipsini in Mzilikazi, where transport was readily available,” Ncube said.
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Instead, the court heard, Chitsa diverted the woman towards Mpilo Central Hospital before persuading her to enter a nearby bushy area.
“Upon reaching the secluded area, the accused raped the complainant and stole her cellphone,” Ncube said.
The matter was reported to police, and the complainant later identified Chitsa during an identification parade.
In the second case, the court heard that on March 16 at around 4pm, Chitsa approached an 18-year-old woman in Bulawayo’s city centre and asked her to accompany him to Mpilo Central Hospital, claiming his mother had been admitted there.
After travelling by commuter omnibus, he allegedly led the complainant to a bushy area behind the hospital, where he raped her before dragging her to an abandoned room and raping her again.
“He only released the complainant the following morning,” Ncube told the court.
The court further heard that on June 4 at around 10pm, Chitsa met a 22-year-old woman near Tredgold Building after she had failed to secure transport to Nyamandlovu.
He allegedly offered her accommodation for the night before claiming he had left his vehicle at Mpilo Central Hospital.
“Upon arrival, he produced an Okapi knife, raped the complainant in a bushy area and later took her to an abandoned room where he raped her again,” Ncube said.
In the fourth incident, which allegedly occurred on June 16 at around 8pm, Chitsa is accused of targeting a 41-year-old woman near Tredgold Building before taking her to the same bushy area behind the hospital.
“The accused attempted to rape the complainant twice, but she resisted until he eventually abandoned his attempts,” Ncube told the court.
Chitsa was remanded in custody until July 6, 2026.
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