HARARE – An alleged serial rapist who posed as a taxi driver appeared in court Thursday accused of the sexual assault of 10 women he gave a lift in his vehicle.

Gilbert Mugodi, 48, was held without bail after appearing before Harare magistrate Richard Ramaboa.

The court heard that Mugodi never used protection on all his victims and threatened them with death if they reported the attacks, claiming that he was a Satanist.

The court was told that he would ejaculate in the victims’ mouths and force them to swallow his semen.

He was caught after he started using one of the victims’ mobile phone which was tracked by the police.

Sebastian Mutizirwa, prosecuting, told the court that on March 7, 2020, Mugodi was driving a Toyota Raum with registration ABH 2877 at around 8PM when he gave a lift to the victim who took the front seat. Two other passengers were already in the back.

The court heard Mugodi drove to Mbudzi roundabout where the other passengers disembarked and he was left with the complainant. He allegedly told the woman he was going to pick a passenger at Boka Auction Floors and would drive her to Hopley afterwards. He drove along Harare-Masvingo road and turned right at Amalinda road to a bushy section in Ushewokunze where he parked his car.

Mugodi allegedly ordered the complainant to suck his penis, but she refused. He flashed her with a shocker torch which produced a weird sound, frightening the complainant before he went on to tell her that he was a Satanist.

Scared, the victim told investigators she did as she was told. He also raped her once and forced her to swallow his semen.

Following the attack, Mugodi allegedly drove the victim to Highglen Road with his lights off. He told his victim that her children were going to die if she reported the attack.

The court heard that she told her husband that her phone had been stolen and left out the rape incident, which she later told to her pastor’s wife who helped her file a report at ZRP Glen Norah.

At about 7PM on May 23, Mugodi offered a lift to a woman at Mapuranga in Machipisa. She was going to Budiriro.

On the way, Mugodi told the victim that he wanted to pick up a friend at Olivine Industries before they proceed to Budiriro. As they got to Olivine, Mugodi told the complainant that he was a ‘Satanist’ and also a human trafficker, but on that day he did not want to spill blood so she had to comply with what he was going to say.

Mugodi reportedly then switched on an electric shocker and raped her using the same modus operandi.

He also stole her mobile phone and US$25 before dropping her off near Mashwede Complex.

The victim called the police.

In the third incident, the court heard that Mugodi offered a woman a ride from Machipisa. She was going to Mufakose.

He raped her along the way after telling her that he was feeling sorry for her as there were some people who wanted to kill her for rituals.

Mugodi also told the victim it was his birthday and he deserved to have sexual intercourse. He dumped her along Highglen Road.

On August 11 at around 5PM, the victim was looking for transport at Mapuranga bus stop along Highglen Road to Chitungwiza when Mugodi approached her on foot, asking where she was going.

After she told him that she was going to Chitungwiza, he went to get his car, this time a Toyota Wish which had five other passengers and three disembarked before they got to Chitungwiza.

The complainant was left with Mugodi and another person who is currently at large. They turned into Hopley Road and drove to Ushewokunze then parked in a bushy area where three men arrived wearing black red and green garments with large clay pots.

Mugodi reportedly told the three men that he wanted to sacrifice the complainant and threatened to put her in the clay pot.

Mugodi and his accomplices then raped the complainant in their car, and when she shouted for help, they threatened to kill her.

He then stole her US$50 before dragging her out of the car and leaving her at the scene where she was helped by passers-by who called her father.

On August 23, the complainant’s mother discovered that her phone was being used on WhatsApp and the number was tracked leading to Mugodi’s arrest.

He was positively identified by his victims.