By Rex Mphisa
VILLAGERS hunting down a suspected serial rapist have now identified him as a person from the Thongwe area and are now even aware of his real parents.
But the villagers are increasingly getting impatient with the police they feel should have long accounted for the man suspected to have raped several women in Beitbridge East.
On Wednesday a tracking party from HaMakhavhani saw him close to Madhamuni area, a few kilometres north of the Government Staff Village.
He had crossed the vlei from Tshambelela and Dithe areas moving westwards towards HaGoda.
He is limping, according to information, and is also believed weary but despite that managed to outpace people tracking him.
Villagers said he is sporting a black tee-shirt and a tracksuit and his general direction was seemingly towards his home.
“His parents live at Tshanotshi ( Thongwe area towards Maphani) and the father has a crippled / disabled hand,” said one villager in a voice note shared in the villagers.
The last team to engage the suspected rapist said they spotted him walking in front of them but he slid into the bush after realising people behind him.
“He has a tactic of hiding then follow behind those tracking him. We realised that and hid so he would show up but he bolted off at top speed despite the limp,” said one villager.
“If police had joined us they would have used dogs and we would have solved this problem once and for all,” said one villager.
The suspected rapists has caused mayhem in Beitbridge East with his would be victim having overpowered him in Tshaswingo.
Previously he is alleged to have raped about five women in Chamnanga, Lutumba, HaGoda, Makavhani and other nearby villages.
He is also accused of robbery of the same victims.
Efforts to get comment from the National Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Paul Nyathi were unsuccesful.