By George Maponga
MASVINGO – A 27-year-old mentally challenged Gutu woman yesterday morning left villagers in Gadzingo communal lands shell-shocked after she allegedly killed a local herdboy with an axe before feeding on parts of his brain and flesh from the severed head.
Villagers in Gadzingo, on the outskirts of Mpandawana Growth Point, were left stunned after they found Esther Katandawa busy consuming the remains of Simon Muzenda (29) of the same village whom she had allegedly fatally axed following a chase around 9am.
Katandawa had been discharged from Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital on Thursday last week and was allegedly taking medication at home to stabilise her condition before she went berserk and killed Muzenda in cold blood.
Four police officers from Mpandawana managed to arrest Katandawa after laying an ambush close to where she was feeding on some of Muzenda’s remains, while horror-filled villagers watched from a distance.
Katandawa had initially chased the villagers threatening them with the axe after they tried to stop her from feeding on Muzenda’s remains.
Villagers called the police after failing to apprehend her as they feared for their lives.
Sources yesterday said Muzenda met Katandawa in the morning before she disarmed him of the axe that he was carrying.
Sensing danger, Muzenda tried to flee, but Katandawa easily caught up with him since he was suffering from a hamstring injury.
“The deceased did not last a distance before the woman caught up with him and started struck him with the axe all over the body until he died,” said Mr Lameck Kufakunesu from Gadzingo village.
“She also struck Muzenda on the skull and started feeding on some of the brain that was coming out of the head, it was a gory sight. The woman had been recently discharged from Ngomahuru Hospital where she was detained for a long time because of her mental state.’’
Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa yesterday said investigations were continuing on the matter.
He said preliminary investigations showed that Katandawa had a history of mental illness, but would be charged with murder.
“Police have arrested the woman and investigations are continuing. She was arrested while she was busy feeding herself on human brain and some flesh from the skull,’’ said Asst Insp Dhewa. The Herald
