Liberty Dube and Tendai Vambe
A DEADLY family dispute turned fatal in Buhera when a brutal midnight attack involving an iron bar and an axe left a 46-year-old man dead, culminating in his brother’s arrest on a murder charge.
Blessing Musapukira (46), of Chaputika Village under Chief Nyashanu, recently appeared before the Mutare High Court charged with the murder of his brother, Denford Musapukira.
The motive behind the alleged killing remains unclear.
Musapukira appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Sijabuliso Siziba, and is expected to return to court next week for trial.
Mrs Jane Rose Matsikidze is prosecuting.
According to the State, the fatal incident occurred on April 8, 2026, at the family homestead in Buhera.
Prosecutors allege that Musapukira struck his brother on the head with an iron bar, causing him to collapse before allegedly attacking him further with an axe.
The seriously injured Denford was rushed to Birchenough Bridge Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem conducted by Dr Musvosvi on April 9 established the cause of death as cardiac arrest, severe head injuries and exsanguination, a condition resulting from excessive blood loss.
The State alleges that Musapukira unlawfully caused his brother’s death, either intending to kill him or realising that his actions carried a real risk of causing death, but proceeding regardless.
The alleged murder weapons, an iron bar and an axe, were later recovered by investigators.
The court heard that the accused’s cousin, Mr Nhamo Zvazvazvenyu, received a phone call from Musapukira shortly after 2am on April 9.
During the call, Musapukira allegedly confessed that he had killed his brother using an axe and an iron bar.
Alarmed by the revelation, Mr Zvazvazvenyu alerted fellow villagers before rushing to the accused’s homestead.
Upon arrival, he allegedly found Denford lying in a pool of blood with the suspected murder weapons beside the body, while Musapukira sat nearby.
Police were immediately contacted and subsequently arrested the accused at the scene.
