Serial rapist sentenced to 62 years in prison

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A BULAWAYO serial robber and rapist has been sentenced to an effective 62 years in jail for raping and robbing six women after luring them into the bush on different occasions between June last year and June this year.

A BULAWAYO serial robber and rapist has been sentenced to an effective 62 years in jail for raping and robbing six women after luring them into the bush on different occasions between June last year and June this year.

BY SILAS NKALA

Thulani Dube (29) was convicted on six counts of robbery and three counts of rape when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mark Dzira last Friday.

Dube was initially sentenced to 54 years in jail for rape before 10 years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The robbery charges attracted an 18-year jail term.

Dzira said it was clear that all complainants positively identified Dube due to the time he spent with them before rape and robbery as he took time to lure them into the bush.

handcuffs gavel

“Evidence is clear that you robbed and raped complainants and one would not make a mistake in identifying you as the offences were committed during the day,” the magistrate said.

He said robbery and rape were serious crimes which involved violence.

“One witness broke down in tears while testifying on what you did to her. This means rape traumatises the victim for the rest of her life. You committed these offences after carefully planning. This means you moral blameworthiness is high and there is need to give you a harsh sentence.”

Prosecutor Tinashe Dzipe told the court that Dube committed the offence between June 4 2014 and June 1 this year after sweet-talking his victims to secluded spots in the city where he raped and robbed them at knifepoint.

He was arrested last month after his last victim screamed and drew the attention of members of the public who immediately rushed to the scene and effected a citizen’s arrest.