Island informal settlement residents, Makhaza, are up in arms following a rape and killing of a woman allegedly by an ex-boyfriend.
The gruesome incident happened on Sunday 6 November around 17:00.
The woman, whose identity has been withheld to protect the family, was reportedly on her way to the salon when she met the perpetrator. The man allegedly dragged the woman into his shack and raped her before killing her.
“The incident happened in the afternoon on Sunday. The culprit is known in the community. He fled the scene after he committed the crime,” said one of the residents, who identified himself as Mcethe.
“According to residents, the incident occurred at about 17:00 and at that time the people were still roaming around. I’m not sure who saw or alerted the community first about that because I was in Taiwan (an informal settlement in Site C) when the incident occurred. On my arrival there people were standing there with some police vans,” he stated.
Harare police station spokesperson Capt Siyabulela Vukubi said police have opened an inquest docket.
“On Sunday 6 November, at approximately 19:00, police were shown the body of a 31-year-old female who was declared dead in a shack. Reports received are that there was no physical evidence indicating that she was murdered, hence police have opened an Inquest. The post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” said Vukubi, adding that no arrest has been made yet.
Funeka Soldaat, Harare Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair, claimed that the deceased was raped and a metal stick was thrust into her private part.
She accused residents of failing to protect the deceased.
“I fail to understand where the community was when the culprit dragged the woman to his shack. How does such a thing happen in daylight but no one can see it? The community failed the victim. A person manhandled in front of the community but not a single person reacted,” she said.