Zimbabwe MP's rapists jailed for 29 years

Zimbabwe MP's rapists jailed for 29 years

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By Lebo Nkatazo

A PAIR of armed robbers who gang-raped a Zimbabwean legislator before looting her property have each been jailed for 29 years.

Shepherd Ngulube, 31, and Lovemore Mumvuri, 37, will serve 15 years for rape, and a further 14 years each for the robbery. Three years and four years were suspended from the sentences respectively.

Marondera regional magistrate Gladys Pise told the men before sentencing: "Rape is a very grave offence, especially in this case when it was committed on a respected member of society. You did not only demean and traumatise her, but shocked her as well."

The two men were convicted of the crimes last month after prosecutors told how they gained entry into Zanu PF Mudzi West MP Acqueline Katsande's rural home by knocking down her dining room door using an axe.

She was sleeping when the two -- armed with knvives -- forced their way into her house just after 2am.

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.
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