Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A MONSTER rapist and killer, Daniel Chauke (63), of Mukondomi Village under Chief Ngorima, was last week sentenced to three life terms in prison for brutally raping and killing three defenceless women in Chimanimani and Chipinge, including one who was five months pregnant.
Mutare High Court judge, Justice Isaac Muzenda, handed down the sentences after a full trial.
Chauke’s reign of terror began in 2023, but he evaded arrest until May 2024 when he was taken into custody for stock theft.
In a shocking twist, Chauke voluntarily confessed to the heinous crimes, which police had been struggling to solve.
His confession and subsequent conviction finally brought closure to the families of the victims and ensured that justice was served.
Prosecutor, Mr Malvern Musarurwa, presented chilling details of the crimes to the court, revealing that Chauke ambushed the now late 30-year-old Hauneni Manaka Masimandoyo in the fields, strangled her to death before violating her lifeless body.
“Masimandoyo was a female adult aged 30 years. Between April 24 and 30, 2024, at Taderera Village, Chauke strangled Masimandoyo, who was five months pregnant; causing her death. Chauke then raped Masimandoyo’s lifeless body, mutilated her privates with a machete, and left them hanging loosely. He took the deceased’s purple panties and fled from the scene.
“On April 30, 2024, Clifford Gonzo, a local villager, discovered Masimandoyo’s body in a swampy area. The body was identified by Chipo Madhuku, the deceased’s sister, who recognised the clothes she was wearing, including a red blouse and a pink skirt pulled above the abdomen.
“She had no panties. The deceased’s body was lying on the ground facing upwards with both arms and legs stretched. The deceased’s body was in a decomposing state. Her face had already lost shape. When he was arrested, Chauke was in possession of the deceased’s purple panties, which was identified by Masimandoyo’s husband, who had bought it for her. He was also found in possession of the machete used in mutilating Masimandoyo’s privates,” Mr Musarurwa told the court.
Mr Musarurwa said Chauke also raped and killed Ruth Sithole, of Chipinge, whom he approached while working in her field early in the morning.
Chauke asked for a job, and later proposed love to her; both of which were turned down. He went on to rape Sithole before killing her.
“On October 21, 2023 at around 5am, the deceased left her house proceeding to her field in Chikwanda Village, under Chief Mutema in Chipinge. As she was working in her field, the accused approached her asking for a piece job in the field, and she refused. The accused proposed love to her, and she turned him down. This did not go down well with Chauke who grabbed Sithole by the neck. Sithole was dragged for about 40 metres from the field where Chauke raped her. After the rape, Chauke strangled Sithole to death. Chauke struck Sithole’s barking dog on its hind legs and went away.
“On October 22, 2023, a male juvenile and his two friends were at the field as they wanted to clear it. The juvenile’s dog started barking at a nearby bush. He proceeded to investigate, and observed the body of a woman lying in the bush. He called out trying to greet her, but she did not respond.
“He moved closer and noticed that there were some flies on the mouth and eyes. He also observed a dog lying next to the body. The deceased’s children were informed and they positively identified the body as that of their mother,” he said.
Mr Musarurwa said Chauke was arrested for stock theft on May 27, 2024 at Chipinge Urban Police Station and during interrogations he freely admitted to killing the deceased persons.
On May 30, 2024, Chauke voluntarily led the police to the crime scenes, providing crucial evidence in the case. He is also suspected of murdering another victim, bringing the total number of alleged murders to three.
“On May 27, 2024 Chauke was arrested for stock theft at Chipinge Urban Police, and during interrogations, he freely and voluntarily admitted to have killed the deceased persons. On May 30, 2024, Chauke freely and voluntarily made indications leading the police to the crime scenes,” said Mr Musarurwa.
Chauke allegedly murdered a third victim, with circumstances surrounding the incident not readily available at the time of publication.
