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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A suspected serial killer yesterday appeared at the Harare magistrates court facing five counts of murder.
Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu (20) pleaded guilty to the five counts of murder when he appeared before Harare Mr Magistrates Mr Dennis Mangosi.
Mr Mangosi said for the completion of record, Ndlovu must be taken for indications after his arrest on Monday.
Prosecutor Mr Zebediah Bofu told the court that police needed more time with Ndlovu, who is also facing one count of attempted murder, to complete investigations.
He said there was need for indications, an identification parade and the recovery of weapons used to commit the murders.
Ndlovu was remanded in custody to September 7.
Police had earlier on said they had arrested a 20-year-old man who has been targeting and killing homeless people in the CBD.
They said Ndlovu killed five people in the city between August 28 and September 4.
Investigations have revealed that after killing the victims, he would then boil or break their parts and consume them.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu aged 20, alias Sauro, in connection with five cases of murder which occurred in Harare Central Business District between 28 August 2023 and 4th September 2023.
“The suspect who is believed to be living in the streets would target ‘street kids’ who will be fast asleep and crush them and open the victims’ stomach to remove genitals and other body parts using empty broken bottles. The suspect would then boil or braai the human parts on any open fire place and consume them in the Harare Central Business District,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said on Monday police detectives tracked Ndlovu along Abdel Gamal Nasser Road (formerly Rotten Row), Harare after he allegedly tried to attack a “street kid” who did not bother to make a police report.
“On being arrested, the suspect was positively linked to five murder cases which occurred on 28th August 2023 at the corner of George Silundika Avenue and Simon Muzenda Street, Harare, 1 September 2023 at the corner of Mayor Urimbo Terrace (formerly Inez Terrace) and Robert Mugabe Road, Harare, 3 September 2023 at the corner of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Seventh Street, Harare and on 4 September 2023 at the corner of Cripps Road and Remembrance Road, Harare.
“The suspect has been linked to three murder cases committed in Bulawayo in 2020 where he crushed a victim’s head in Bellevue suburb using a brick after he found him drunk and asleep in his yard, in January 2020,” he said.
Further investigations have revealed that in December 2020, he crushed a victim’s head in Makokoba Suburb after finding him asleep by the road side.
He again crushed another victim’s head using stones at Sekhusile Shopping Centre, Nkulumane after finding him sleeping in a pavement.
He then fled to Harare.
The suspect is also facing a charge of attempted murder and has a warrant of arrest for a robbery case which occurred in Milton Park, Harare in June 2021.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has not found any evidence to link the recent murder cases committed by the suspect to ritual killings.
“The police assures the public that enquiries are still being conducted to find out the real motive behind the suspect’s conduct and if he acted alone or not,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
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