The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
IN horrific incidents cut from crime thrillers, an uncle allegedly slit the throat of his nephew with a kitchen knife, killing him instantly, while on the fateful night a 75-year-old man died after being violently attacked by a machete-wielding gang that had barged into his Buhera home.
The violent crimes occurred in Mutero and Chiweshe villages under Chief Nyashanu last week on Wednesday, spurring the police into action to curb rising violent crimes.
Moven Mutero (25) of Mutero Village was apprehended by neighbours as he slit open his 26-year-old nephew, Mr Clemence Muchizii’s throat with a kitchen knife.
The tragic incident follows a scuffle allegedly triggered by the deceased after a beer drinking binge on January 24.
On the fateful evening — Mr Bvururai Chizema (75) — who was relaxing with his wife in the spare bedroom was violently killed by three assailants who stormed his homestead at night alleging that he had previously wronged them.
The assailants who are now fugitives from justice after fleeing from the scene, struck the victim with a machete on the head, legs and right arm. He died before he could be taken to hospital.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed Mr Muchizii and Mr Chizema’s deaths and said investigations are in progress.
He appealed to members of the public with information leading to the arrest of Mr Chizema’s assailants to report to their nearest police station.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said they are treating the two cases as murder as defined in Section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
“On January 24, Mr Muchizii disembarked from a bus at Mutero Business Centre and went to Moven Mutero’s shop where he found him in the company of Mr Blessed Mutichi and Mr Forward Muchiti. They started drinking beer until late in the evening.
“After the binge, the four left together with Mr Muchizii and agreed to sleep at Mutero’s place since he was too drunk to proceed to his home. He slept in Mutero’s bedroom, and after about 15 minutes, he allegedly woke up and grabbed him (Mutero) by the neck, pushing his head against the wall. Mutero escaped and rushed to the kitchen where he grabbed a kitchen knife and returned to his bedroom. He stabbed the deceased three times on the stomach and chest as well as twice on the back,” he said.
Still in a fit of rage, Mutero allegedly slit open the deceased’s throat.
“Mutero’s mother, Ms Eustina Magaya who was sleeping was awakened by the noise and rushed out to investigate. She went to her son’s bedroom and saw him sitting on the deceased’s chest, slitting his throat. She alerted other villagers who rushed to the scene and apprehended Mutero. A report was made to the police the following morning. The scene was attended, and Mutero was arrested, while Mr Muchizii’s body was taken to Birchenough Bridge Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem,” he said, adding that it was not immediately clear what sparked the fight between the two relatives.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said on the same night, three unknown male adults pounced on the now late Mr Chizema’s homestead with a machete hidden in a bag and stole four cellphones and U$274.
Nothing was recovered.
He said Mr Chizema was in the spare bedroom with his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Chizema, while their domestic workers — Mr Gift Chigwizura and Mr Taurai Demawatema — were seated on the verandah.
“The three unknown persons approached the two domestic workers, and two of them force-marched them to the spare bedroom where Mr Chizema was with his wife.
“One of the suspects remained on guard on the verandah. The accused persons alleged that Mr Chizema had previously wronged him, but did not mention the exact offence.
“While inside, one of the suspects withdrew a machete from a bag and grabbed cellphones that were in the house. Sensing danger, Mr Chizema tried to escape into the dining room and locked the door from inside. However, the two suspects forcibly opened the dining room door. They struck Mr Chizema all over the body with the machete. They left him lying in a pool of blood writhing in pain,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said the two suspects returned to the spare bedroom and tied Mrs Chizema and the two domestic workers’ hands and legs.
Mr Demawatema was locked in the kitchen, while Mr Chigwizura was left in the spare bedroom.
“The two suspects escorted Mrs Chizema to her bedroom and demanded money. She took US$7 from her purse and gave them. The accused person went on to ransack the bedroom and stole US$267 before vanishing into the darkness,” he said.
Mrs Chizema later managed to untie her legs and proceeded to the bedroom where her hands were untied by Mr Chigwizura using his teeth.
She in turn untied Mr Chigwizura before he proceeded to the kitchen to free Mr Demawatema.
“Mrs Chizema went to the dining room and found her husband lying in a pool of blood on the floor. She sought assistance from her neighbours, Mr Tozivepi Natsirai and Ms Rosemary Munjoma.
“Mr Chizema succumbed to stab wounds before he could be ferried to hospital. A report was made to the police at Dorowa. Police attended the scene and observed that the body had several deep cuts on the head, legs and left arm. The body was taken to Murambinda Mission Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem,” he said.
