Men plead guilty to rape of Zimbabwe MP

Men plead guilty to rape of Zimbabwe MP

• Senate president wants private doctor

• Ministers, MPs clash over committee grilling

• Mugabe claims he defeated UK-led overthrow

• Parliament dumps Jongwe Printers

• 20-year wait for new Parliament Building

• Big Brother in Parliament

• Brief parliamentary sitting ignores crisis

• Lobengula causes stir in Parliament

• Zimbabwe senate will last only 5 years

• Moyo fights senate constitutional amendment

By Lebo Nkatazo

A ZIMBABWEAN legislator was raped and had her property stolen when two armed robbers gained entry into her rural home by knocking down her dining room door using an axe.

Two men pleaded guilty on a rape and robery charge on Wednesday, and have been remanded in custody for sentencing on April 23.

Zanu PF Mudzi West legislator, Acqueline Katsande, was sleeping at her rural home in Mudzi district, Mashonaland East, when she was woken up by a loud bang at about 2am on March 13.

Two armed robbers -- Lovemore Mumvuri, 32, of Mudzi and Shepherd Ngulube, 30, of Chitungwiza -- had just knocked down her dining room door.

Angeline Sithole, prosecuting, said as Katsande went to investigate the noise, one of the men grabbed her and pointed a knife to her chest and threatened to kill her if she raised the alarm.

Mumvuri and Ngulube then ransacked the house, stealing goods worth Zim$437 million.

They also helped themselves to cash amounting to Zim$500 000 and stuffed various items of property into a travelling bag. The stolen items included a radio, 10 pots, four pans, two Nokia mobile phones, four blankets, two computer adapters, one bedspread and a jacket.

As the 47-year-old legislator thought her nightmare was coming to an end, the men then fulfilled their sickening sexual cravings by taking turns to rape her, all the time with a knife being waved in her face.

Mumvuri and Ngulube then took their loot to another village where they left it with a man named by prosecutors Charakupa Karipachi. The following day, they moved the stolen property to Changara in Mozambique where they sold it.

Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi personally presided over the investigation after President Robert Mugabe expressed shock at the incident.

The two men, who were wanted on other robbery charges, were later arrested and led detectives to Mozambique where property worth Zim$7,8 was recovered.

Katsande was treated at Kotwa General Hospital and is said to be steadily recovering from the traumatic experience.

Marondera regional magistrate Gladys Pise will pass sentence on the two men.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
debate@newzimbabwe.com