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Adelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
VICTORIA Falls residents were on Monday treated to free drama when a woman who had allegedly stolen whisky and sausages from a supermarket stripped naked and claimed a security guard wanted to rape her.

Nomalanga Sibanda, 29, originally from Lupane, but was visiting relatives in the resort town, allegedly stole the goods from TM Supermarket.

The drama unfolded as this reporter watched.

Sibanda sauntered out of the supermarket with the stolen goods.

Luck was not on her side as a security guard, Lindani Thebe, who had been tipped by a CCTV operator tried to intercept her.

Sibanda, showing an unlikely burst of speed, dashed off towards a nearby bush.

The equally fit security guard shouted for help as he ran after her.

An excited witness remarked: “This rivals some of the best action thrillers.”

With the guard gaining ground, Sibanda suddenly stopped in the bush and pulled off her jeans and undergarments.

“Help!” she screamed: “This man wants to rape me.”

The bewildered security guard stopped dead in his tracks.

Hordes of shoppers who witnessed the incident whistled and shouted that she was lying.

Thebe just stood sheepishly, apparently lost as to how to hold and cuff the naked woman.

Tourism police, who were on patrol and had seen Sibanda running from the supermarket, came to Thebe’s rescue.

They arrested Sibanda and ordered her to dress up.

“Can you dress up and stop that nonsense. No one wanted to rape you,” said one of the officers, much to the amusement of the swelling crowd.

Officer commanding police in Victoria Falls District, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona confirmed the arrest.

“I can confirm that we’ve a report of a suspect who is charged with theft. She is in the holding cells and will appear in court,” Chief Supt Chiwona said.

Quizzed why she stole the two bottles of Amarula, one of Bootleg and four packs of sausages, Sibanda said she wanted to prepare for a braai with her friends where each was supposed to contribute.

Thebe said: “We were alerted by a CCTV operator and we immediately reacted as the woman was already a distance away. I ran after her and she pretended to comply with my orders to return to the shop but then started running towards the bush.”

He said he was closing in on the woman when she did the unthinkable.

“She started screaming, saying that I wanted to rape her and I thank the cops who had seen her escape,” Thebe said.

The value of the stolen goods is $49 and everything was recovered.