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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulawayo is lucky to be alive after she was gang raped at gunpoint by armed robbers at her Magwegwe West suburban home.

The assailants also made off with cash and property worth more than $2 000.

The victim’s name has been withheld for ethical reasons.

The incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday and a suspect has since been arrested.

Three armed robbers pounced on the complainant’s home and got away with US$20, 200 rand and property worth about $2 100.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.

“I can confirm that we are dealing with a case of armed robbery and rape which occurred at a house in Magwegwe suburb and was reported. Police are carrying out further investigations,” she said.

Chief Insp Simango said police had since managed to arrest one of the suspects but could not disclose his identity.

“At this moment, I can only say that we apprehended one of the suspects and he is assisting us with investigations. Identifying him by name might jeopardise our operations,” she said.

Chief Insp Simango urged the public to secure their homes at all times and advised communities to report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods.

“The public must always be alert and report any suspicious activity happening in their neighbourhoods. Now that there are convenient modes of communication, they must be used so that neighbours become each other’s keepers,” she said.

Sources said the woman was sleeping at her home on Wednesday night when three armed robbers gained entry into her house and looted the property.

One of them allegedly threatened to shoot her with a pistol while two are said to have taken turns to rape her.

Neighbours said her husband was away and some family members were sleeping.

The robbers allegedly went away with property including a 54-inch television set, home theatre set, blankets, pots, cellphones and other property all valued at $2 100. They also took away R200 and $20.

The suspects also allegedly demanded that she hands over her handbag and when she complied they took away two cellphones.

Some of the property was recovered after the arrested suspect led police to where it was being kept. — @andile_tshuma.