Pair in Court for Luring, raping Women with fake j...

Pair in Court for Luring, raping Women with fake jobs

Michael Mashiri- Court Correspondent

A man and a woman who lured young women with false job offers as shop assistants and housemaids, only to rape and rob them, have been brought before the court.

Aleck Kanyonzo, 42, and Tendai Tabazha, 42, appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa at the Harare Magistrates' Courts, facing charges of robbery and rape.

They were advised to apply for bail at the High Court and are set to appear in court again on April 8, 2025.

The prosecution alleges that the two targeted at least eight victims, aged between 19 and 42, between January 2024 and March 20, 2025.

According to the court, Tabazha would approach women separately, offering them employment as housemaids or shopkeepers. She would collect their contact details and maintain communication regarding the supposed job opportunities.

Once a victim showed interest, Tabazha would arrange to meet her at a designated location.

It is alleged that after gaining the victim’s trust, Tabazha would call Kanyonzo, who would then pick them up under the pretense of taking them to their new workplace.

Instead of transporting them to a legitimate employer, Kanyonzo allegedly drove the victims to secluded areas near Lake Chivero farms.

Once there, he would produce a knife, threaten to kill them, and sexually assault them before robbing them of their phones, clothes, and other valuables.

Kanyonzo reportedly handed over the stolen items to Tabazha, who then sold them. The proceeds were allegedly shared between Tabazha, Kanyonzo, and a third accomplice who remains at large.

Each victim was targeted on a different day.

On March 19, Tabazha approached a relative of one of the complainants, a 23-year-old woman, and offered her a shopkeeper position. The relative declined but shared the complainant's contact details with Tabazha.

The complainant then began communicating with Tabazha and agreed to meet her at Machipisa Shopping Centre on March 20.

At around 8:30 a.m., the complainant arrived at the shopping center, where Kanyonzo appeared and claimed he had been sent by Tabazha to escort her to her new job. They boarded a commuter omnibus and disembarked at an unidentified bus stop.

Kanyonzo then led the complainant to a secluded area along Lake Chivero farms. Once deep in the forest, he allegedly produced a knife, robbed her of her cellphone and bag, and raped her three times.

After the assault, Kanyonzo ordered the complainant to leave.

She later encountered some passersby and shared her ordeal. The group launched a search, spotted Kanyonzo, and pursued him.

They managed to apprehend him and recovered the complainant's phone and clothes.

The total value of stolen items is estimated at US$3,000, with only US$60 recovered.