Four youthful artisanal gold miners from Battlefields, who
graphically narrated how they sexually assaulted girls believed to be
commercial sex workers in a video recently, have appeared at the Kadoma
Magistrates’ Court. They were charged with rape and robbery.
Thabani Gazi (20), Prince Chirombo (18), Rombo Chirara (18)
and Admire Chirongoma (18) — who shot to infamy after their video went viral on
social media while chronicling how they committed the offence, were not asked
to plead when they appeared before Kadoma regional magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo on
September 29.
They were denied bail and remanded in custody to Thursday.
Mr Mbobo could not proceed with the matter in the absence of the complainants.
The State, led by Mr Reginald Chaora, indicated that some of the complainants
and witnesses were being victimised by sympathisers of the accused. Allegations
against the four arose on July 4 this year when they allegedly entered the
girls’ room at Mungwanya Compound in Battlefields armed with machetes, knives
and empty beer bottles.
The victims were allegedly asleep. It is the State’s case
that the accused ordered one of the girls’ clients to hide behind a curtain in
the room. The court heard that they subsequently attacked the girls before
gang-raping them. It is the State’s case that the four used protection during
the sexual encounters. Although the sex workers cried out for help, they were
unfortunately subdued by the marauding quartet.
The gang then helped themselves to four Nokia cellphone
handsets, before disappearing into the night. News of the assault came to light
when the girls, who were not named, made a report to the police the following
morning. If found guilty of rape, assault and armed robbery, each of the
youthful offenders could spend 20 years in jail. herald
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