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Tendai Tavengwa (20), Jane Tembo (30), Molly Timbeno (20) and Pauline Moyo (28) all from Rimuka suburb in Kadoma, but presently residing at a lodge in Dulibadzimu suburb, Beitbridge, pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault as defined in Section 67 (1) of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act when they appeared before Beitbridge magistrate, Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu during an inspection in loco at Makakavhule village. They were remanded out of custody to 22 May.

The prosecutor, Mr Forster Abeki said on 9 March, the accused persons and the complainant together with his friend and uncle went to Makakavhule village, about 10km out of Beitbridge. On arrival they proceeded to Bangale Bottle Store where they started drinking beer.

The court heard that while in the process of drinking, the four women started teasing the complainant about his manhood during which they demanded that he unzip his pair of shorts so that they could have a look at his private parts.

The man refused to give in to their demands and an altercation ensued.

The four women then teamed up and grabbed the complainant by his hand before they dragged him to a nearby Blair toilet. The court heard that while inside, Moyo lowered her skirt and pants to the knees. Tavengwa then allegedly forcibly removed the complainant’s shorts while Tembo held him by the neck. She allegedly ordered him to be intimate with their colleague as Timbeno blocked the entrance of the toilet.

The court heard that the complainant started wrestling with the four women in an effort to free himself, but the women overpowered him. The complainant was, however, rescued by his friend who had become suspicious and decided to follow them.

In their defence, the accused persons said it was the complainant who had followed them to the toilet.