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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Prosecution in the case involving two touts accused of indecently assaulting a woman yesterday told the court that only the woman is competent to tell the court how the incident happened.

This came as a response to defence lawyer Mr Nathaniel Chogoro’s submission that the woman’s evidence was “unreliable” because she was confused. The woman was allegedly stripped naked by touts at Simon Vengai Muzenda Street (formerly Fourth Street) rank.

In her response prosecutor Ms Kudzayi Chigwedere, told the court that the key witness in the case was the woman.

“It is her testimony that when she arrived at the bus terminus, a man wearing a grey T/shirt and a pair of jeans, Marvellous Kandemiri, called her and she ignored.

“At that stage no one at the rank was interested in her. Kandemiri was the first to call her a prostitute, attracting the attention of other touts.

“At this state of the incident the woman was composed and identified her caller, she was not yet confused,” she said.

Ms Chigwedere added that if it was not for Kandemiri who called the woman, the incident would not have happened.

“Blessing Chinodakufa is the one who lifted the woman’s dress exposing her pant and tearing the under garment.

“Both accused have a case to answer and must be put to their defense,” she said.

The ruling for the application of discharge was postponed to Friday because the presiding magistrate was not available.

Kandemiri (32) and Chinodakufa (31) are facing charges of indecent assault and they are denying the charges.

Mr Chigoro is representing Kandemiri.

Ms Chigwedere alleged the pair and their accomplices still at large stripped the woman when she arrived at Simon Vengai Muzenda Street rank on December 17 last year.

She was on her way to Ruwa and although she made efforts to cover herself up, the accused persons continued pulling her dress up to her waist and lowering her panties.

The court heard that the woman tried to escape into a parked commuter omnibus, but she was pulled out and she fell to the ground.

The woman managed to flee into another commuter omnibus where the driver and the conductor asked her to pay $2 so that they could take her away from the scene.

The offence came to light after a video captured while the woman was being tormented went viral on social media networks.