tawandamusarurwa
. . . killer to have been in prison until after 2026
All things being equal, Murengwa was supposed to have been in prison at the material time he killed his former girlfriend. Investigations by The Sunday Mail revealed that, according to case number B1036/17, Murengwa — who used House Number 1040, Sisk Location, Murehwa, as his permanent address when he was arrested on August 20, 2017 — was supposed to report to Murehwa Police Station every Friday as per his bail conditions…
The case also oddly dragged on for years until it was closed last year following his demise.
Veronica Gwaze
On August 20, 2017, police detectives attached to the Minerals and Border Control Unit received an anonymous call tipping them off that a man was trying to sell a pangolin.
They quickly sprang into action and hurried to Chisipite Shopping Centre in Harare, where the deal between the pangolin seller and interested suitors was supposed to be sealed.
They subsequently swooped on then 24-year-old Tafadzwa Murengwa, who was caught red-handed with the pangolin in a brown satchel.
He alleged Maxwell Landirani (41), a soldier; Leon Tsiga (26), a police officer; and Kudakwashe Nyoni (28), a nurse, were his accomplices. The three were, unsurprisingly, close to the shopping centre.
On August 23, 2017, the four were hauled before Harare magistrate Mrs Nomsa Sabarauta, charged with contravening Section 45 of the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), which outlaws trade in endangered species.
The offence carries a mandatory nine-year jail sentence.
Many people thought it was an open-and-shut case, but it never was.
On August 31, 2017, Murengwa was granted US$200 bail at the High Court.
Part of his bail conditions were that he would report to Murehwa Police Station every Friday until the matter was finalised.
However, the case inordinately dragged on for 1 802 days, until the fateful day, July 29, 2022, when Murengwa — who had since been nicknamed “Boss Pango” by his friends after his infamous court case — shot his girlfriend Samantha Dzapata dead in Waterfalls, near Bathroom Boutique, on Simon Mazorodze Road.
Red flags
The tragic end to the relationship came as no surprise to some of Dzapata’s friends, who always had a hunch that nothing good could ever come out of the relationship because of Boss Pango’s violent streak.
It is believed the wheeler-dealer, who was based at the notorious former Ximex Mall in the central business district, became increasingly insecure and violent when the couple got engaged.
Gogo Grace Marumahoko, Murengwa’s paternal grandmother, told The Sunday Mail in August last year that signs of imminent tragedy started showing when the couple’s relationship turned violent.
“He called and told me everything the day he beat her; it was unlike him. Growing up, he was neither violent nor did he have temper problems,” she said then.
“I had to counsel him because he was freaking out. In turn, he apologised to me for what he had done and asked me to call his girlfriend on his behalf.”
Days later, Gogo Marumahoko called Dzapata to hear what had happened.
“She laughed the incident off, saying ‘it was nothing serious’ and that she had forgiven him.
“However, he insisted that she was lying and that the two had actually broken up,” she added.
This prompted her to advise the two to come to Guruve for counselling, but they did not show up.
Since Dzapata was known in the family, her breakup with Murengwa worried relatives.
Following the breakup, Murengwa’s relatives convened for an indaba at his uncle’s place in Chishawasha, as they tried to counsel and advise him to move on.
Sadly, the meeting did not help.
On Wednesday July 27, 2022, Murengwa was arrested for allegedly assaulting Dzapata and appeared in court the following day.
After his court appearance, he caused a stir near Ximex Mall, when he threw about US$2 000 notes like confetti, prompting passers-by to scramble for the money.
In hindsight, many believe this was a red flag, as a day later, he trailed Dzapata and shot her in the head before speeding off.
In a recording he made after killing his ex-girlfriend, Murengwa said he had thrown the money out of frustration after realising she was no longer interested in him.
He later committed suicide in Chishawasha on July 30; he drank a poisonous substance.
When justice moved like a snail
There are some people who believe, had the wheels of justice turned fast enough in Murengwa’s pangolin case, he probably would not have crossed paths with Dzapata.
Pangolins are among the 24 protected species under the Parks and Wild Life Act (Chapter 20:14).
Section 128 of the Act stipulates that any crime involving protected animals attracts a mandatory sentence of nine years.
Hypothetically, if Boss Pango had been convicted and sentenced in 2017 or 2018, he would have been caged until 2026 or 2027, respectively.
All things being equal, Murengwa was supposed to have been in prison at the material time he killed his former girlfriend.
Investigations by The Sunday Mail revealed that, according to case number B1036/17, Murengwa — who used House Number 1040, Sisk Location, Murehwa, as his permanent address when he was arrested on August 20, 2017 — was supposed to report to Murehwa Police Station every Friday as per his bail conditions.
“Bail pending trial be and is hereby granted,” reads part of the bail order.
“Applicant to report at ZRP Murehwa once every Friday between 6am and 6pm until the matter is finalised.”
It, however, could not be established whether he really ever stayed at the given address or if he was still reporting to Murehwa Police Station, as the court had ordered.
The case also oddly dragged on for years until it was closed last year following his demise.
Further, the charges against the trio who were implicated in the case were dropped.
During trial, the State led evidence from the arresting officers, who testified that the pangolin had been recovered from Murengwa, adding that the trio were only before the court because they had been implicated by the Ximex Mall dealer.
With Boss Pango dead, the case against the three naturally collapsed.
“This is a matter for withdrawal after a plea in respect of accused two, three and four. Accused one (Murengwa) is deceased and we would like to tender a certified copy of the death certificate,” reads part of the plea for withdrawal.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has given authority for the matter to be withdrawn after a plea.
“The basis of withdrawal being that, when the first three testified, the three accused persons were implicated by the accused, one who is now deceased.
“The only evidence we have is evidence by implication. We are now withdrawing in terms of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act for lack of evidence.
“Charges against two, three and four are hereby withdrawn after plea for lack of evidence. The accused persons are found not guilty and acquitted.”
But questions still remain why the case was allowed to drag on for close to five years without being concluded.
Court sources told The Sunday Mail that the accused could have used every trick in the book to ensure proceedings were at a snail’s pace.
The Judicial Service Commission referred questions on the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority, who have yet responded to questions sent to them on February 9 .
Whatever the circumstances surrounding Murengwa’s pangolin case, one thing is clear: Another life was needlessly lost.
Separately, sources also indicated that despite
Murengwa’s family having reached out to the Dzapatas to make amends, the two parties have not yet met.
Online Reporter