- Police say the three women had 33 condoms containing semen
- They were charged with 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault
Harare, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Police in Zimbabwe on
Friday charged three women found in possession of 33 condoms containing
semen with 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault in a case that may
be a break in a string of sex attacks over the past two years by women
targeting male hitchhikers.
Prosecutor Michael Reza
told a court in Harare that the counts were for each of the 17 men who
had positively identified the women as having sexually assaulted them in
2010 or 2011.
The women, all of them in
their mid-20s, were arrested Sunday in Gweru, about 300 kilometers (186
miles) south of Harare, when their car was involved in an accident.
Police found the condoms in the women's car. Police appealed to any
other victims to inform police.
The three were taken Wednesday by police to Harare.
"Since Monday, 17 men
came and positively identified the women as having raped them," said a
police official in Harare who refused to be identified. "Most of the men
said the women would offer a drink either laced with something to
tranquilize them or were forced at gunpoint."
Watch Ruparanganda, a
professor of sociology at the University of Zimbabwe said : "Some
sections of the society use these sperm for ritual purposes. The
thinking is that it can be used for regeneration of life since they are
source of life (biologically). Some people think that they can have
their bad luck gone by using semen. I am sure that explains all this we
have been witnessing (men being forced)."
The prosecution identified the suspects as Rosemary Chakwizira, 24, Sophie Nhokwara, 26, and her sister, Netsai Nhokwara, 24.
They were to be held in custody until their next appearance, set for October 28, when more charges may be filed.
"We might have had more victims come identify these women," said the police source.
