Mereki shoots lover, turns gun on self

HARARE – Prominent businessman Irvine Mereki whose family is behind the famous braai spot, kwaMereki, in Harare’s Warren Park D suburb died in a double shooting. Police spokesperson Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.

Mereki allegedly shot dead his mistress after finding her with another man before turning the gun on himself in Avondale early on Tuesday. Several Nehanda Radio Citizen Reporters in the area texted us the news as it broke.

Mereki (32) and Clariss Chopamba, whose age was not given, were found dead by a maid yesterday morning when she called for work. Police spokesperson Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka confirmed the incident that occurred at a house along Oxford Road in Avondale.

“We confirm the death of the two and we have since attended the scene. The bodies of the deceased have since been taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem,” Superintendent Chishaka said.

According to police, the tragic incident was discovered by a maid who wanted to get car keys from her boss Chopamba to give to a gardener who had reported for work and wanted to clean the car.

“She found the two deceased persons lying on the floor of the bedroom and a report was made to the police,” Supt Chishaka said. He said police attended the scene and found Mereki lying face down with a gunshot wound behind his right ear and was holding a Silver Star pistol in his right hand.

“His forefinger was on the trigger guard and the pistol was loaded with two rounds and also two used cartridges were found in the bedroom,” he said.

Supt Chishaka said Chopamba was also lying in a pool of blood facing up on the bed with a gunshot wound on her left ear. Supt Chishaka said preliminary investigations revealed that the couple had a five-year relationship and had a son together.

He also said the weapon used was registered in Mereki’s name. Relatives of Mereki who were gathered at Avondale police station allegedly assaulted a ZBC cameraman, Tafadzwa Chigwede.

“They assaulted me and stopped me from filming the transportation of the deceased bodies to the mortuary,” Chigwedere said adding that he reported the case of assault at Avondale police station, and a relative of the now deceased — Maison Mereki — was picked up in connection with the assault.