By A Correspondent- A Midlands State University (MSU) student was raped by a pirate taxi driver who had earlier mistaken her for a commercial sex worker.

The suspect who was driving a black Honda fit raped the woman (name withheld) on New Year’s Eve at around 7 PM in Pelandaba suburb.

On the date in question, the unknown suspect approached the complainant in the central business district whilst she was walking along George Silundika Street towards 11th Avenue- a popular hot spot for commercial sex work.

The accused person offered the complainant a lift to her place of residence before asking her for sex in exchange for US$5. The complainant refused and told him that she was not a  commercial sex worker.

The pirate taxi driver allegedly drove along Khami Road to Pelandaba suburb where he stopped at a bushy area near Sizane turn off. The complainant was then ordered to remove her clothes at knifepoint before she was raped.

Bulawayo acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident.

On 31 December 2019, the complainant was walking along George Silundika Street in the central business district towards 11th Avenue when she was approached by the accused person who was driving a black Honda Fit registration number AFB 6688.

The accused offered the complainant a lift to her place of residence.

The accused person went on to have protected sexual intercourse with the complainant once without her consent.

The man allegedly forced the complainant to disembark from his vehicle and drove away.

Asst Insp Msebele said the woman was helped by a stranger who took her to the police station. The complainant was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for medical examination.

-StateMedia