Female 'rapist' trio: We're just hookers

Sophie-suspect

THREE women held on suspicion of being ritualistic serial rapists have told detectives they are hookers who are so busy they had no time to dispose of the 31 semen-containing condoms seized from their car..
Rosemary Chakwizira, 24, Sophie Nhokwara, 26, and Netsai Nhokwara, 24, were seized by police on Sunday in what investigators say is their first major break in a two-year investigation into a string of sex attacks on male hitchhikers.

The trio were transferred from the Midlands town of Gweru to the capital Harare on Thursday as police arranged an identity parade for more than a dozen victims.
Investigators also applied for a court warrant to extend the women’s detention period. Suspects can be held for 48 hours, at which point they must be charged or released, although courts can give police more time.
Midlands Provincial police spokesman Inspector Patrick Chademana said: “Our investigations are continuing. I can confirm that all three suspects are now in Harare to afford victims an opportunity to pick their attackers.”
For two years, police have suspected the attacks, mainly in Masvingo, the Midlands and Harare provinces were the work of twisted sperm-harvesting syndicates.

Typically, male hitchhikers are carefully targeted before being offered a lift by women, who sometimes use a male driver.

Police say most of the victims were either offered a drink laced with some mystery drug to sedate them or forced at gunpoint to go with their female captors to safe houses where they were ordered to be intimate with the women if they wanted to live.

Their semen is then harvested. Most victims report that they were robbed of their possessions and dumped on roadsides.

 

The bizarre behaviour has puzzled detectives.

Watch Ruparanganda, a professor of sociology at the University of Zimbabwe, said sperm was associated with the regeneration of life, which would translate into business growth.
"People believe that sperms can make someone's luck improve," he said, adding that unscrupulous businessmen were behind the attacks.

The Daily News was reporting on Thursday that semen was "selling like hot cakes" in neighbouring South Africa where a condom full could fetch as much as US$400.

Investigators got a lucky break when Shophie Nhokwara’s boyfriend, who has not been named, ran over and killed a pedestrian along the Gweru-Lower Gweru road while driving her red Chevrolet Aveo.

On examining the vehicle, police found 31 used condoms in the boot – three of them said to be half-full with semen.

Shortly after, police say the three women arrived on the scene and asked to be allowed to retrieve personal items from the car, immediately arousing the suspicions of law enforcement agents.
A police source who attended interviews with the women said: "So far, the three have denied raping men and have said they are prostitutes who find themselves so busy with clients that they do not have time to dispose the used condoms. They said they intended to throw away the condoms."

Details of the three women’s lifestyles have been emerging since their arrest.

 

Sophie Nhokwara and Rosemary Chakwizira are neighbours in Gweru’s Mkoba suburb.

 

Police have conducted searches at their home, but sources say nothing of value to the investigation was uncovered.

 

A neighbour said: “The three women are very popular in Gweru, and everyone knows they are ladies of the night.

 

“They live lavish lifestyles.”

Sophie, according to neighbours, recently sold a Mazda 626 before splashing on the Chevrolet which suffered extensive damage in the accident.

She is popular around Mkoba night spots where she is known by the nickname Tindo.

On Facebook, she lists her relationship status as “divorced”. Among her favourite activities she lists "driving around" -- police will argue picking up hitchhikers.
Sources tell New Zimbabwe.com she was married to a rich diamond dealer in Mutare, with whom she has a daughter. She moved to Gweru following their divorce.
In an August 6 entry on her Facebook wall, she said: "Zvakaoma. Varume havati kuendeswa kumaintenance [It's tough. Men don't want to be sued for maintenance]."

culled from Newzimbabwe.com