HARARE - A Zimbabwean man has accused a gang of three women of kidnapping, drugging and raping him in the fifth sexual attack targeting male victims in under a year, a police spokesperson said

The 26-year-old man told police he was offered a lift in the southern city of Bulawayo but passed out in the vehicle after he was grabbed from behind and his face covered with a cloth.

He said he fell unconscious again after being given a substance that tasted like alcohol.

"After he woke up he was naked and the ladies took turns to rape him and abused him," police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said.

The man told police he passed out after the assault but was later dumped by the women.

"The women also took his money, US$300 (about R2000) and cellphone," Bvudzijena said.

"The intentions of the three women are not clear but we suspect it could be for ritual purposes."

The incident on Friday was the fifth such attack reported in several parts of the country, carried out by groups of women of varying size.

"It could be one or more gangs involved which is doing this. In all cases the victims are caught unawares and they are given drugs which makes them dizzy," Bvudzijena said.

"A docket for aggravated assault has since been opened."

The first attack happened last November when three women kidnapped an 18-year-old man, the state-run Herald newspaper reported.

In February, a group of four women forced a 25-year-old to have sex with them at gunpoint.

Last month a 44-year-old man who was ordered to wear a condom was targeted by two women while a man stood guard.

A 30-year-old man was also drugged by three women, two of whom had guns, who sexually assaulted him.

Under Zimbabwean law, the charge of rape only applies to women victims.