Court relives Domboshava murders

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A 33-year-old Chinamhora man appeared in court on Wednesday charged with the murder of three men in one night in 2012. Peter Dirayi, of 2112 Delport in Epworth, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing three counts of murder, two counts of robbery and attempted murder charges.

He was remanded in custody to July 28. Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on September 7, 2012 at around 4pm, Dirayi and his accomplices, Blessing Kunaka and Joshua Chibonda, who have since appeared in court, went to Chinamhora.

Chibonda was allegedly armed with a chain and Dirayi was wearing safety shoes.

They boarded a commuter omnibus to Mverechena Business Centre. The trio walked along a footpath that links Borrowdale Stud Farm and Mverechena Business Centre where they met the now deceased, Wilson Mateyu, at around 8pm.

They grabbed Mateyu by the throat and stole his two mobile phones and a pair of shoes before assaulting him with the chain until he lost consciousness. They dragged him for 60 metres into the bush and left him for dead.

Mateyu was found by passers-by the following morning and taken to Makumbi Hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital where he died. Around 1am, the court heard, the gang met the second deceased Clemence Johannes, whom they assaulted and dragged for seven metres into the bush, before leaving him for dead.

Johannes was later found dead. The court heard that two hours later, the trio met the third deceased Cephas Dehwa who was coming from Ticha’s bar at Chirodzero Business Centre.

After searching him and realising he had no money, they assaulted him with the chain on his head.

Dehwa died the following day at Harare Central Hospital.

Thirty minutes after their heinous murder, the trio ambushed and attacked Paddington Zhakata. They assaulted him with the chain, booted feet and fists. Zhakata suffered serious injuries and loss of memory. Two other people, Wandani Tsoka and Casper Muvirimi, were also fortunate to survive after being attacked and robbed by the trio. Dirayi was implicated by Kunaka and Chibonda.