Knife wielding serial rapist in court for raping eight juveniles

HARARE – A suspected serial rapist, who callously preyed on juveniles from Churu Farm and Glenview suburbs often wielding a knife in the dead of night, appeared in court Thursday charged with eight counts of rape and robbery.

Chrispen Bonda, 35, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

He was remanded in custody to February 9 awaiting trial.

According to prosecutors, on February 1, last year and at around 9 pm, the first complainant, aged 13 years at the time, went to bed with her little brother, who was 5.

Her parents also went to sleep in their own bedroom leaving the main door unlocked.

Around 2am during the night, the complainant felt an intruder lifting her blankets.

Court heard she switched on her mobile torch and before she knew it, the suspect pounced on her, holding a knife to her ear while ordering her not to raise any alarm.

The suspect then force marched her out of the house and to a nearby house whose construction was still to be completed.

Court heard Bonda held the minor’s shoulders and kept the knife on her ear all the time.

The suspect ordered the girl to lie down before he proceeded to rape her once without protection.

He then marched the victim back home before he vanished into the darkness.

The complainant reported the matter to her parents who accompanied her to Glenview police to file a report.

The suspect pounced again October 7 last year, this time on a 10-year-old girl from the same area.

The victim, according to prosecutors, slept in the sitting room with her mother and other family members.

“On 7 October 2022 and at around 0230am, complainant woke up and found herself outside  their neighbour’s unfinished house in the company  of the unknown accused who was putting on a yellow tracksuit, mask and hood jacket,” reads court papers.

Court heard he then raped her once without protection.

It is alleged he threatened the victim with a knife and only released her when her panicking mother started screaming her name from home.

Complainant went back home and narrated the ordeal to her mother.

During the incident, the family also discovered that a 5kg gas tank, ZW$2000, Hisense cell phone with a Netone line, Samsung cell phone with a NetOne line and a Vivo cell phone which had no sim card had been stolen.

It emerged the suspect had forced the main door open with an unknown object to gain entry into the house.

The matter was reported to Glenview police.

Total value stolen was US$195, ZW$2,000 and nothing was recovered.

Court further heard on December 21 and at around 8pm, Bonda allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl from the same area using the same modus operandi.

He allegedly raped the minor around 2am after ordering family members to cover their heads with blankets while threatening to kill the complainant if they failed to comply.

Court also heard Bonda told his victims he was in the company of his accomplice who was outside.

He raped the minor before he stole 3kg gas tank, blue kitchen knife and a Vivo cell phone with an Econet Line before fleeing with the loot together with the complainant’s white pants.

The matter was reported to Glenview police with the girl later referred to the hospital.

On December 28 and at around 11 pm, court heard, Bonda again raped a 15-year-old from the same suburb.

It is alleged the complainant’s parents woke up and also found several property that include phones and clothes stolen.

Early morning hours of December 29, he also attacked an 11-year-old girl before stealing a plasma television set and phones valued at US$189.

Two days later, Bonda sexually attacked another 11-year-old girl using the same means before stealing a two plate gas stove.

The complainant’s parents were awakened by the noise of a pot that fell accidentally on the floor.

On November 15, he sexually attacked a 16-year-old girl at around 1am.

Court heard on January 19 this year at around 11pm, Bonda sexually attacked a 13-year-old girl from the same neighbourhood.

It is alleged he force marched the complainant to Churu Farm Primary School orchard where he raped her once without protection.

All the cases were swiftly reported and victims were medically examined.

Their medical reports will be used in court against Bonda.

Enjoyed this post? Share it!