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Kumbirai Christine Alfayi, Midlands Reporter
AN 11-member gang has appeared in court facing 43 counts of rape, theft and assault committed in Gweru and Shurugwi towns.

Shepard Gundani (30), Mugove Mutore (33), Bernard Sibanda (26), Charles Munyenyiwa (29), Nicholas Sinengo (24), Talent Ranganai (33), Stuwart Makurumure (32), Naison Dube (25), Tinashe Mharadze (24), Kudzai Maphosa (24) and Prince Tazvivinga (28), all from Gweru, appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa, who remanded them in custody to December 13.

Prosecutor Mr Talent Tadenyika said in October last year, Sinengo and Ranganai, who were armed with a machete and an axe, broke into a house in Dabuka and allegedly threatened to kill the victim if she didn’t give them money and valuables.

Fearing for her life, the woman gave them US$30, but the thugs ransacked the house and found a further US$570.

They also took her shoes and skirts before Ranganai allegedly raped her.

A gunshot was heard during the alleged rape resulting in the two fleeing from the scene.

The court heard that the two committed a similar offence in Adelaide Park in Gweru where Sinengo allegedly raped two sisters.

On December 8, Ranganai, Sibanda and Gundani reportedly stole a pellet gun, 100 grammes of amalgam gold, a gold scale, a 150 Watts inverter, 90kg of maize seed and groceries from a house in Mtapa suburb.

The court heard that on January 24, the gang pounced on an unsuspecting resident in Nkululeko where they got away with US$700.

On February 4, Makurumure, Mutore and Dube alleged stole a Nissan Murano vehicle belonging to a Mkoba 20 resident. They also allegedly stole a 32-inch Plasma TV and blankets, which they loaded into the vehicle, which they dumped near the Mkoba 14 water reservoir after reloading the loot in their getaway vehicle.

The gang allegedly broke into a house in Charlton Park and Munyenyiwa stabbed the owner with a Colombian knife on the lower part of the arm to silence him while they ransacked his house.
Sinengo allegedly raped the house owner’s wife in front of her husband.

Using the same modus operandi, the gang went to Shurugwi on February 9 where they allegedly robbed a tuck shop of some groceries before Sibanda force-marched the female victim, who worked at the tuck-shop, to a nearby bush and allegedly raped her once.

The gang went on to rob two other men from Shurugwi, leaving one of the victims with an injured left eye and admitted to Shurugwi District Hospital.

Police arrested the 11 following a tip off and have now launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects.