Two Harare residents, a 42-year-old man, Aleck Kanyonzo, and a 42-year-old woman, Tendai Tabazha, were presented in court yesterday, facing accusations of orchestrating a series of crimes over several months.
They are alleged to have deceived women seeking employment, offering them false job prospects, and subsequently subjected them to robbery and se**al assault.
The pair faces multiple charges of rape and robbery, following reports from eight female victims, aged 19 to 42, who detailed their experiences of manipulation and violence.
Court prosecutors stated that Tabazha initiated contact with women in public spaces, extending offers of employment as domestic workers or retail assistants. After acquiring their contact information, she arranged subsequent meetings. Kanyonzo then assumed the role of transporting the victims to their supposed workplaces. However, he instead drove them to secluded locations near Lake Chivero farmlands. There, he reportedly used a knife to intimidate and sexually violate the women, before stealing their personal belongings, which included mobile phones, clothing, and money.
These criminal acts are alleged to have occurred between January 2024 and March 2025, with each victim being targeted on a separate occasion. The stolen items were purportedly passed on to Tabazha, who then sold them, distributing the proceeds between herself, Kanyonzo, and an unidentified accomplice who remains at large.
The criminal operation was disrupted on March 20, when Tabazha approached a relative of a 23-year-old woman, offering a position as a shopkeeper. Although the relative declined, she shared the victim’s contact details. The following day, the victim met Tabazha at Machipisa Shopping Centre, where Kanyonzo then took her into his custody, escorting her onto a public minibus. Instead of proceeding to a workplace, he directed her to an isolated area, where he is alleged to have forcibly raped her three times, using a knife as a weapon, and then stole her mobile phone and handbag.
Following the assault, the traumatized victim encountered bystanders, who assisted in apprehending Kanyonzo. He was found in possession of her stolen phone and clothing.
During their appearance before Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, the court advised them to apply for bail at the High Court, citing the severity of the charges. They are scheduled to reappear in court on April 8, as the investigation continues.
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