A 39-year-old resident of the Zambezi Region charged with the rape of a 60-year-old tourist near a tourist establishment in 2021 has denied any guilt for the crime when he appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrates Court on Friday.

Boniface Lubembo also pleaded not guilty to other charges laid against him, namely attempted murder, robbery, and assault.

Lubembo, who let go of his first legal aid lawyer after conflicting instructions, has again opted not to make further use of a second legal aid lawyer. 

Lubembo, whose trial was supposed to have continued, appealed to the court to grant him an opportunity to apply for another legal aid lawyer, stressing that he wants to proceed with the trial only when he is legally represented.

Due to his insistence, the court granted him the opportunity to apply for another legal aid lawyer, and the hearing was postponed to November 22 and 23.

He will, however, return to court on the 15th of this month to find out about the outcome of his application for legal representation.

It is alleged that Lubembo raped the tourist after subduing and tying her with ropes around her arms and legs. 

He allegedly left her gagged with a cloth in the mouth, half naked apart from a shirt, after the alleged rape.

Lubembo is also alleged to have robbed his victim of items valued at more than N$28,000.