Man found dead, skinned

By Kuda Bwititi

A Mt Darwin man was recently found dead with his head battered and his left ear missing in one of the most horrific murder cases recorded by the police in recent times.

Edmore Mwedziwendira (43) of Chibaya Village, Chief Nembire in Mt Darwin had a deep cut on the neck and a deformed skull.

The police have since apprehended three suspects.

The chilling murder is one of the disturbing cases that the police have cracked in recent weeks, as the force moves to clamp down human killers.

The police said murder cases had shot up to as high as 12 cases per week between December and January. However, the cases are now on the decrease.

Giving an update on homicide cases to The Sunday Mail last week, National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba (pictured) said the police had apprehended Mwedziwendira’s suspected killers within three days.

“After their arrest; Tinashe Nyarunge, Kilford Mutimure and Takesure Chiunza confessed to the crime and are in police custody awaiting trial in April,” she said.

‘‘The deceased (Edmore Mwedziwendira) was the owner of Mwedziwendira Shop at Chikwira Business Centre. On the day in question, he and his son, Tatenda Mwedziwendira, closed the shop and they retired to bed in their respective bedrooms.

“Later on, Tatenda proceeded to the deceased’s bedroom and discovered that the door was locked from outside. Tatenda force opened the door and noticed some blood stains on the floor.

“He reported the matter to the police and they attended the scene.

“Police conducted a search and found the body of the deceased lying in a grave yard about ninety metres from the shop.

“The police observed that the deceased had a deep cut on the neck and a deformed skull. The left ear was missing and the head was completely skinned.”

In their confession, the trio said the killing was part of a ritual process and implicated a Harare prominent woman.

“However, their statements about the woman were not corroborating so we were not able to ascertain her whereabouts,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

In another disturbing homicide case that took place in the wee hours of last Friday morning, a soldier based at Inkomo Barracks axed his wife to death following a domestic dispute.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police were finalising investigations on the case.

“On 12 February 2016 at around 0130 hours, complainant Rudo Mandizha had a misunderstanding with her husband Maxwell Nyamuri at Mandaza village, Mubaira, Mhondoro.

“The husband is a soldier stationed at Inkomo Barracks.

‘‘The complainant screamed for help and this awakened neighbours who went to investigate and found the house ablaze,” she said.

“The accused had struck the complainant with an axe before setting the house ablaze. The three children were nowhere to be found.

‘‘Police are still finalising investigations and more details will follow.”

In yet another appalling murder case in Mhondoro, Simbarashe Munakamwe of Suku Village, Chief Mangwende in Murewa stabbed a 15-year-old secondary school pupil at Chitemerere Secondary School.

Munakamwe, who is in police custody, stabbed the juvenile after she had rejected his love proposal.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba also urged members of the public to be wary of armed robbers.

Last week, three unknown men pounced on Engen Service Station in Chitungwiza, physically assaulted three fuel attendants — Elias Tekenende, Melody Romosi and Tendai Mafala — before getting away with valuables and US$705 in cash. The Sunday Mail