In a chilling incident that has left authorities and citizens shaken, a young couple’s leisurely drive along the Bulawayo-Nyamandlovu Road turned into a horrific nightmare. On March 31, the 37-year-old man and his 26-year-old girlfriend were ambushed by two armed men, who subjected them to a brutal 3-hour ordeal of false accusations, savage beatings, rape, and robbery.
The couple’s terrifying experience began when they parked their Toyota Hilux in the Mbuyazwe area to rest. Suddenly, two men emerged from the shadows, accusing the male victim of cattle rustling. The situation escalated rapidly, with one attacker pistol-whipping the victim twice on the back of the head, while the other stabbed him four times with an Okapi knife.
The assailants then force-marched the couple 200 meters into dense bush, binding them with electrical cables and rope. The victims were subjected to a terrifying ordeal as the attackers ransacked their vehicle, stealing valuables worth thousands of dollars, including the Hilux itself. The female victim was dragged away and raped without protection, leaving her traumatized.
In a bizarre twist, the attackers returned the male victim’s bank cards and driver’s license before fleeing in the stolen vehicle. The couple managed to free themselves from their bindings and stumbled 3 kilometers along the road, where they flagged down a Good Samaritan who took them to the police.
Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele warned citizens to avoid secluded parking spots, emphasizing that the perpetrators are still at large and pose a significant threat to public safety. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains shaken by the brutality of the attack, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.
