Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
[email protected]
A 37-year-old Chipinge man has been sentenced to two life terms by the High Court in Mutare after being convicted of murdering two girlfriends in separate incidents committed under similar circumstances.
Felix Siyatiunya was convicted in two separate murder cases in which both victims were allegedly killed following disputes over infidelity accusations.
Confirming the convictions, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) national spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri said the first murder occurred on September 27, 2023, at Checheche Growth Point in Chipinge.
“In a similar fashion, the accused assaulted his then girlfriend to death over infidelity accusations. He went on to cover the victim’s body with a blanket, locked the room from outside, placed the key under the door mat and disappeared into the night before calling his landlord who then discovered the victim’s body before filing a police report,” said Det Insp Muteweri.
She said investigations into a second murder committed in Mutare on December 18, 2025, later linked Siyatiunya to the earlier killing.
“In one of the cases that occurred on 18 December 2025, the accused had a misunderstanding with the victim, then his girlfriend, over allegations of infidelity. During the altercation, he repeatedly struck the victim on the head with a log before using the pointed end of a metal file to stab her several times on the head and neck. The victim succumbed to the injuries sustained,” said Det Insp Muteweri.
She said after the attack, the accused wrapped the body in a blanket and left it in his rented apartment before fleeing.
“The victim’s body was later discovered by her sister after the accused called her and instructed her to check his room,” she said.
Det Insp Muteweri said detectives arrested Siyatiunya in Mutare on January 3 this year following information on his whereabouts.
“Further investigations revealed that the accused person was also wanted for a murder case committed on 27 September 2023 at Checheche Growth Point, Chipinge,” she said.
Following his arrest, Siyatiunya appeared before the High Court in Mutare where he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on one count on June 2 before receiving a second life sentence on June 9 for the other murder charge.
The convictions brought to a close investigations into two separate killings that detectives said displayed striking similarities in both motive and the manner in which the accused attempted to conceal the crimes before fleeing.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 29-year-old Abiola Mangena was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Bulawayo Regional Court for robbery.
Det Insp Muteweri said on June 11 this year, Mangena entered a shop and threatened the complainant with a pellet gun before stealing a cash box.
“The complainant shouted for help prompting members of the public to give chase leading to the arrest of the accused person and the recovery of the weapons used in the commission of the crime inclusive of a pellet gun,” she said.
Det Insp Muteweri commended members of the public for assisting police in the fight against crime.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police continue to applaud members of the public for their concerted effort in the fight against crime. Such collective efforts remain vital in ensuring the safety and security of communities throughout the country,” she said.
