Police in Bulawayo have urged members of the public to desist from boarding Mushikashika motor vehicles after a woman was gang-raped by four men at The Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre.
The four men also robbed a man who, alongside the woman, had boarded their pirating silver Honda CRV vehicle on Monday night.
Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube on Tuesday said a manhunt had been launched for the suspects. He said:
Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of robbery and rape which occurred on April 5 around 8 PM.
The two complainants boarded a Silver Honda CRV registration number unknown at corner 6th avenue and Lobengula Street, Bulawayo intending to go to Cowdray Park.
The car had four men including the driver. The driver drove along Luveve road as if he was proceeding to Cowdray Park.
At the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Drive, the driver turned left instead of right and drove for about 100 meters before turning into a bush near Mbeki Hill.
One of the suspects brandished an okapi knife and robbed complaint one (51) of his Mobicel cellphone, US$20, R10 and 10kg mealie meal.
Complainant Two (31) was robbed of her sling bag with $50, US$2, a shopping bag containing rulers, hair combs and rat killer pesticides.
The accused persons then drove along Market Road, Kelvin Industrial Area, Bulawayo where they dumped complainant number one.
From there they drove to Nkulumane Provincial Heroes Acre together with complainant number 2 where three of the accused persons took turns to rape her in the motor vehicle.
After raping the complainant, the accused persons drove back to Kelvin Industrial Area where they dumped her.
The matter was reported at Western Commonage Police Station and complainant number 2 was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical examination.