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Thandeka Moyo/ Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporters
POLICE were yesterday granted permission to further detain nine rape and armed robbery suspects who allegedly wreaked havoc at Luveve High School and Cowdray Park suburb, gang raping women and stealing property at gunpoint.

The nine, whose names are yet to be released, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya where the investigating officer asked for their further detention up to tomorrow.

“Your Worship we still need more time to conclude our investigations and recover property hidden at accused persons’ rural areas. We will be done by January 21,” said the investigating officer.

Magistrate Tashaya granted the application for the suspects’ further detention.

The gang is expected to appear in court again tomorrow for their initial remand.

One of the suspects was shot by homicide detectives while trying to escape on Sunday morning after he was cornered at a drinking spot in Four Winds suburb.

Police sources said the suspect was shot in the leg as he tried to jump over a precast wall to evade arrest and is in hospital under police guard.

On Monday, Inspector Precious Simango of Bulawayo police said investigations are underway and could not release the suspects’ names.

“I can say, however, that they are all linked to the unlawful entry, theft, robbery and rape cases that have been happening in Cowdray Park and recently Luveve High School,” said Insp Simango.

She said the suspects were aged between 21 and 37 years of age. Police are appealing to Bulawayo residents who might have fallen victim to the suspected criminals to come forward and help solve old cases.

Insp Simango said during the raids, police recovered property including 17 cellphones, laptops, decoders, generators, DVD players and plasma television sets among other household goods.

She said their investigations led them to Esigodini where they arrested their first suspect on Saturday.

“The Esigodini suspect exposed his other accomplices who were found in different suburbs in Bulawayo,” said Insp Simango.

On Saturday night, the gang raided Luveve High School and raped three women, two of them teachers, before stealing household goods.

In December, it is believed the same gang pounced on a Cowdray Park couple, smashing their vehicle windscreen with an axe which they also used to attack the man.

They kidnapped the couple and gang-raped the woman in a bushy area, before stealing the pair’s cellphones.

Two days later, a South Africa-based public transporter who was trying to evade a police roadblock was also attacked by the suspects who gang-raped one of the women in his vehicle and stole R19,000 from another passenger.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo residents yesterday hailed police for arresting the armed robbers.

Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube said it had become a nightmare walking in the city’s streets knowing that dangerous criminals were on the loose.

“I think it’s a success that police have arrested the criminals. We’re excited and we want to applaud them for a job well done. It was disturbing that people’s lives were being threatened especially in Cowdray Park without any arrests. And to hear that nine of them have been arrested is commendable,” said Dube.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) communications officer Zibusiso Dube also heaped praise on the police.

“For us as BPRA it’s a good thing that the suspects have been caught and are behind bars pending their appearance in court. Police’s swift action is very commendable as it was disturbing that women were being raped with such frequency without anyone being arrested,” he said.

The two residents’ associations urged members of the public to assist police in their work by reporting any suspicious movements in their suburbs.

Veronica Ndlovu from Waterford suburb said women would now be at peace following the suspects’ arrest.

“You can imagine the trauma that has been endured by some of the victims. If they don’t receive proper counselling they will even struggle to have lasting relationships,” said Ndlovu.

Barbra Makore from Pumula South suburb said the robbers’ rape victims had been destroyed emotionally.

“Rape is worse than murder because rape victims will continue picturing what was done to them. Having three or more people raping you is just unthinkable yet these evil men did it,” said Makore.