The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
Three gruesome murder cases were reported in Chipinge in less than a month.
Five suspects have since been arrested, while three accused persons are on the run.
Four villagers from Chisavanye Village under Chief Musikavanhu recently appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi, facing murder charges.
Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande said the four — Gilbert Chingwinire (28), Mapipi Sigauke (49), Mazano Sigauke (26) and Edmore Mtetwa (33) — fatally assaulted Taaka Sithole (27) following an altercation at a bottle store.
After committing the offence, the quartet tried to conceal evidence by dumping Sithole’s body in Dakate River.
“The four accused persons had a misunderstanding with Sithole before teaming up to assault him. They took turns to assault him until he lost consciousness,” said Mr Katsande.
Sithole died moments later and after realising that they had committed an offence, the gang borrowed an ox-drawn cart from Audrey Sigauke on the pretext that they wanted to ferry him (Sithole) to the clinic.
“They drove the cart to Dakate River and dumped Sithole’s body in the river. They went to their respective homes. Sithole’s body was found floating in the river by Chandaona Ndlovu of Myambo Village. He advised Sithole’s father, Morgan Kufakwababa, who made a police report,” said Mr Katsande.
Police attended the scene, retrieved Sithole’s body and took it to Chiredzi District Hospital for a post mortem.
The four were arrested.
In another incident, a 71-year-old granny was murdered by her 21-year-old grandson who accused her of bewitching him.
Morris Mazoo of Mabeure Village under Chief Mapungwana was arrested on Sunday at Beitbridge Border Post while trying to flee to South Africa.
“Mazoo went to her grandmother, Gogo Susan Simango’s bedroom around midnight on February 15 and found her sleeping. He grabbed an axe and struck his granny on the left side of the head several times and once on the left arm.
“The accused person further struck his granny with a stone on the forehead, resulting in her brains splashing all over the place. Simango’s decomposing body was later found in the hut by a passersby. Mazoo confessed killing Simango to his relatives, but later fled.
“He was arrested while trying to flee to South Africa on Sunday,” said Mr Katsande.
Mazoo appeared in court on Monday facing murder charges and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
In the third incident, Village head Singizi under Chief Mutema was brutally murdered by his brother’s three sons at their farm after being accused of grabbing power from another family member.
The three suspects are still at large.
