GWERU – The Midlands Province in Zimbabwe has witnessed the conclusion of three high-profile murder cases involving notorious gangs terrorising communities.
The first case recorded by Nehanda Radio involves Tavonga Masenga, Raphael Putse, and Kudakwashe Mapolisa, members of a notorious gang that terrorised Gokwe and Empress Mine residents. They were convicted of murder by the High Court sitting at Gokwe.
According to evidence presented in court, on July 15, 2022, the third accused person was driving a white Isuzu truck with the other accused and gang members still at large. They identified their victim as one of the people who had assaulted a fellow gang member the previous day.
Upon seeing the victim, the gang jumped out of the vehicle, chased, apprehended, and brutally assaulted him using stones, wooden logs, and machetes before fleeing the scene.
A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the accused persons. Masenga and Putse were sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, while Mapolisa received a 36-year prison sentence.
In another case, Emmanuel Mahembe, a 37-year-old Shurugwi man, was convicted of murder by the High Court sitting at Gweru. Mahembe lured unsuspecting women into relationships before murdering them. Between August 2021 and September 2022, he murdered two girlfriends, aged 37 and 35.
The court heard that Mahembe met his first victim at Donga, Chachacha Business Centre, Shurugwi, and drove her Honda Fit to Dhanga dip tank, where he murdered her. He wrapped the body in a blanket and buried it along the Gwamamvura River bed before selling the vehicle.
Mahembe also murdered his second victim, aged 35, after a misunderstanding over money. He dumped her body in a disused mine shaft at Mutevekwi Bridge and impersonated her, convincing her son to send money to her Ecocash account, which he diverted for personal use.
Mahembe will appear in court for sentencing.
In the third case, Misheck Betsere (19), Hardlife Muzondo (18), and Kudakwashe Moyana (23) were convicted of murder and robbery by the High Court sitting at Gweru.
On March 24, 2024, the trio entered the 22-year-old victim’s shop at Mazvikanda Shopping Centre, Munyati, Kwekwe, and requested beer. When the victim declined, they asked for change, which was also unavailable.
The accused persons returned, stabbed the victim twice in the chest with a flick knife, and stole a cash box containing USD130. The victim died upon arrival at the hospital.
A police report led to the arrest of the accused persons. Betsere and Muzondo were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, while Moyana received a 23-year prison sentence.
