A gang of robbers armed with machetes an axe and knives pounced on a house in Upper Rangemore in Bulawayo on Wednesday and raped three females including a juvenile.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele the victims are aged 21, 19 and 15.
“Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of unlawful entry and theft which occurred in upper Rangemore, Bulawayo. The four complainants are two female adults aged 21and 19, a female juvenile aged 15 years and a male adult aged 28 years all of Upper Rangemore, Bulawayo,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele.
“The accused persons are five unknown male adults. On 12 May 2021 at around 1900 hours, the complainants were in the sitting room watching television when five accused persons armed with a machete, small axe and three knives entered the house through an unlocked door and demanded valuables.”
She said two of the suspects grabbed the male complainant, searched him and took an Itel cellphone, Samsung cellphone, Vodafone cellphone, and cash amounting to US$10, R50, ZWL$180 from his trousers pocket.
Assistant Inspector Msebele added that the accused persons tied all the complainants’ hands and feet using shoelaces. They searched the first female complainant and took US$5 which was in the pocket of her skirt.
“The accused persons untied and force-marched the three female complainants to the kitchen where they took turns to rape them without protection. The accused persons got into the spare bedroom, took a blue jersey, a traveller’s bag and left,” she said.
The matter was reported at Nkulumane police station on Thursday.
“Police attended the scene and the accused persons were not located. Observations at the scene were that the accused persons gained entry into the house through an unlocked door,” she said.
The three female victims were referred to Mpilo hospital for medical examination and treatment.
Assistant Inspector Msebele said police are appealing to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the accused persons to contact any nearest police station.
