The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata
Senior Reporter
An unremorseful Buhera teenager who butchered three elderly villagers in cold blood was recently slapped with three life sentences by a Mutare High Court judge after a shocking trial in which he told the court that he should be considered a hero for ending the lives of the ‘‘evil’’ trio.
Justice Isaac Muzenda had no kind words for 18-year-old Energy Baisai of Chitsanza Village who violently murdered his victims by hitting them with burning logs and crushing their heads with big stones.
Baisai was found guilty on three counts of murder with actual intent for fatally assaulting Tafa Chitsanza (86), his wife Erina Chitsanza nee Hlabati (80) and his sister Milla Chinotimba (74) on December 3, 2020.
In sentencing him, Justice Muzenda said Baisai was not suitable to mingle with other people in society.
While analysing photographs that were taken by homicide police detectives at the crime scene, Justice Muzenda pointed out that the images were too graphic and should not be viewed by individuals of a nervous disposition.
Principal public prosecutor, Ms Jane-Rose Matsikidze said Baisai visited the deceased people on the fateful day at around midnight and attacked them.
“The accused person went to Chitsanza’s homestead where the three deceased had already retired to bed. He entered the kitchen hut where Hlabati was sleeping together with her niece, Anesu Mwatsikesimbe, who is still a juvenile. Without provocation, Baisai assaulted Hlabati with a log he took from the fireplace. As he did so he demanded to know Chitsanza’s whereabouts.
“The juvenile ran to Chitsanza’s bedroom to alert him about the attack. Hlabati attempted to flee, but Baisai gave chase and assaulted her until she died,” said Ms Matsikidze.
Baisai then turned on Chitsanza and attacked him first with fists and then the burning log.
When Chitsanza tumbled to the ground, Baisai took a big stone and used it to crush the former’s head. The elderly man died on the spot.
Chinotimba also got out of her bedroom after hearing the commotion.
The accused attacked her with a log and finished her off with the stone.
She also died on the spot.
Asked why he committed the crime, Baisai said he was on a revenge mission following his parents’ death.
He said his grandmother told him years back that Chitsanza has caused his parents’ deaths by bewitching them.
“On the fateful day, my late parents woke me up and led me to Chitsanza’s homestead to fight the war which I won by killing the three,” said Baisai with satisfaction.
Justice Muzenda said the suspect’s grandmother shouldn’t have made the baseless witchcraft allegations as this made Baisai grow up with so much hate and anger towards the deceased.
When The Manica Post visited the Chitsanza homestead moments after the heinous crime was committed in 2020, the then seven-year-old girl Anesu who survived the attack narrated the horror script that unfolded right before her eyes as her maternal grandparents and aunt lost their lives.
“I was sleeping in the kitchen hut with Tete (Chinotimba) when I was awakened by her cry for help. That is when I saw Energy (Baisai) brandishing a burning firewood log. He was attacking my aunt with it. The ambers that fell from the log burnt aunt on the face. She managed to escape from the kitchen hut and tried to run away.
“Moments later, Energy stormed into Sekuru’s (Chitsanza) bedroom and dragged him outside. He attacked him with the same log before crashing his head with a boulder. He proceeded to Gogo’s bedroom and attacked her,” she said.
Anesu ran for about 200 metres to get to the nearest homestead to call for help.
“I ran to Gogo Mai Levi’s homestead to look for help. It was dark but I was not afraid. I knocked at their door while crying for help. They took time to come out but I continued knocking until Sekuru (Phineas Chikomba) came out.
“I told him that Energy was crashing my grandparents’ heads with boulders. Gogo Mai Levi took me inside while Sekuru took the other neighbours to attend the scene,” she said.
