Man rapes, kills milk vendor

A MAN from Mvuma allegedly raped and strangled a 22-year-old milk vendor and struck her head with an unknown object before raping the dead body, police have confirmed.

The unidentified man in his mid 30s and believed to be a serial rapist in Mvuma who preys on travellers waiting for transport along Masvingo-Harare near Chicken Slice allegedly went on to attempt to rape another woman who was coming from Chicken Slice Mvuma on her way home.

The incident occurred last week Tuesday when the victim, Privilege Mutara of Chivhu resettlement area was found dead by a passerby who sought to rescue yet another rape victim who had escaped death by a whisker from the same assailant.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the tragic incidents saying the police had launched a manhunt for the suspect who is believed to be behind a spate of rape cases in Mvuma town.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of attempted rape and murder after a woman was allegedly sexually harassed by an unknown male adult and another brutally murdered after being raped.

It is alleged that a female adult from Mvuma was walking towards Shayamavhudzi Township in Mvuma town using a bushy path coming from Chicken Slice. While on her way, she met the suspect and he tripped her to the ground and attempted to rape her. The complainant screamed but the suspect tried to gag her by pouring a handful of soil into her mouth,” she said.

However, luck ran out for the suspect when a passerby heard the complainant crying out for help and ran towards the bush where he found the suspect attempting to rape the complainant.

“The passerby chased after the suspect but came across Matara’s body which had been stripped naked.

“The passerby reported the matter to the police who attended the scene and discovered that Matara had been sexually abused,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.

She said the suspect was still at large.

“We are appealing to the members of the public who might have information pertaining to the whereabouts of the suspect to report to any nearest police station.

“We want to warn Mvuma residents to be wary of the suspect as he has reportedly raped many women in the area using the same method,” said Ass Insp Mukwende.

Meanwhile, Matara’s parents were up in arms with her husband after she went missing for three days but he did not make a follow-up on the matter.

Sunday News is reliably informed that the parents are demanding money from her husband and have reportedly vowed not to bury her if he fails to pay the money. Sunday News