A Bulawayo man, Godfrey Mugabe, appeared in court yesterday facing two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl he had allegedly lured with a job offer.
Mugabe (25), of Nkulumane, was not formally charged when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Mjanja at the Western Commonage Courts. He was remanded in custody to July 4.
Prosecutor Fanuel Chokuda told the court that on June 3, Mugabe met his alleged victim, who cannot be named on legal grounds, in Hillcrest suburb where she was looking for employment as a housemaid.
He allegedly promised to find a job for her and took her to the city centre to one Dube at Nicoz House. While there, Dube allegedly promised the girl employment as a receptionist and advised her to report for duty the following day.
He allegedly later asked the girl to accompany him to a driving school in the city centre which he claimed to be his sister’s, and she complied.
From there, he allegedly took her to a city shopping complex, Bulawayo Centre, which he claimed to be his house.
Mugabe reportedly later led the girl to a hotel near the railway station where he started drinking beer and entertaining her with soft drinks. The pair reportedly left the hotel for another jaunt close to Egodini bus terminus where he indicated he wanted to collect some money.
After the city centre errands around 9pm, Mugabe allegedly led the girl to Cowdray Park where his friend, only identified as Mugadza, reportedly resides.
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He allegedly introduced Mugadza as a security guard working at a lodge where the girl would be working as a receptionist. Around 10pm, Mugadza reportedly prepared bedding for the girl inside Mugadza’s kitchen and she went to sleep.
Mugabe later allegedly sneaked into her blankets and raped her twice. The following morning, he reportedly took her to Matshobana suburb where he allegedly disappeared living her stranded inside a commuter omnibus.
She later found her way home and advised her father about her ordeal and a police report was made.
A follow-up led to Mugabe’s arrest.
