Phakamani Sibanda of 6 Hardy Road in Sunnyside, Bulawayo,
was remanded out of custody to February 15 for continuation of the trial. Bulawayo
province police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed Mr Sibanda’s
arrest.
“Police acting on a tip-off from members of the public
arrested a 33-year-old man, Phakamani Sibanda, in connection to the alleged
rape of a pregnant 18-year-old woman during a private photoshoot last year in
December in Bulawayo.
“He has since appeared in court and was remanded out of
custody until February 15 for continuation of the trial,” said Insp Ncube.
The photo studio where the alleged rape occurred is
situated at the corner of Fort Street and Fourth Avenue in Bulawayo.
The incident occurred on December 28 last year, when the
complainant went to the studio for a photoshoot at around 9AM.
She was wearing a dress and Sibanda took some photos of her
and after some time she asked for a room to change her clothing for another set
of photos. Mr Sibanda provided her an office for her to change her clothes.
As she was changing, the accused knocked and entered the
room and instructed her to take off her skin tight so that the photo could be
of greater quality. She told Sibanda she wasn’t comfortable with his request.
After voicing her concerns, Sibanda left the office and the
victim changed into a new set of clothes and then proceeded to continue with
the photoshoot. When they were done and she went to change again, that was when
the Sibanda allegedly pounced.
It is alleged Sibanda followed her into the office, held
her by the waist and told her that she looked good before raping her. During
the ordeal, she screamed for help, but no one came to her aid.
Afterwards, Sibanda is said to have apologised for his
actions and told her he would send some photos.
A report of the rape was made on December 31, after the
victim narrated her ordeal to another woman, leading to his arrest on Monday. Chronicle
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