Online Reporter
THE killing of five members of the same family— a mother, her two children and two grandchildren — has cast a spotlight on Guruve amid reports that 17 people have been murdered in cold blood in the area this year.
As we reported yesterday, this killing spree has provoked some BIG questions.
Who and what is behind these murders and what has suddenly happened to turn Guruve’s quiet wards into blood-stained killing fields?
Is this the work of a serial killer or a group of serial killers?
We reported yesterday that Grace Zvitsva, 66, her daughter Loice Chiringaushe, 37, and her two grandchildren —Takudzwa Kariva, 5, and Tatenda Chirenje, 2, — were killed on Sunday night at Plot 9, One Farm, in Guruve.
Tendai Zvitsva, 40, who is a member of the slain family, also died after succumbing to the injuries he sustained during this horror attack.
Five other family members, somehow, were not hurt even though they were sleeping in another room at the time of the brutal attack.
The police have named Anymore Zvitsva, who shares the same surname as the victims, as a suspect.
Police said a neighbour was awakened by noise emanating from the victims’ homestead and he responded promptly.
The neighbour, who was in the company of two villagers, observed blood stains at the kitchen doorstep and found Tendai Zvitsva unconscious and bleeding profusely with deep cuts on the chest.
Further inspection revealed extensive bloodstains around the homestead with the bodies of Grace Zvitsva, Loice Chiringaushe, Takudzwa Kariva and Tatenda Chirenje lying in the main bedroom.
Police said they have intensified the search for the suspect with the aid of drone technology and manhunt teams comprising Support Unit, Criminal Investigations Departments, Canine, horse patrols and intelligence units to conduct close surveillance in the forest and mountain where the suspect is alleged to be hiding.
The police said Zvitsva is also linked to several recent murders in Zimuna Village. Pamela Chipangura, Kudzai Chipangura, and Tawanda Chipangura were killed in cold blood.
Pamela, who was 39 at the time of her death, was killed together with her two children Kudzai and Tawanda.
The murders of the eight people in Guruve, who are from two families, is a dark chapter and it has left these rural communities living in fear.
We understand their fear because it is very clear that a serial murderer, or murderers, are roaming their communities.
Police suspect one man is responsible for all this but we know that there is also a possibility that there could be more than one person who is killing these people.
We call on the Guruve communities to help the police to sniff out the suspect, or suspects, from their hiding places. Police suspect the suspect could be hiding in a mountainous area of Guruve.
It’s important that the suspect, or suspects, are nailed before they commit more crimes and kill more people. We are happy that the police are using all available resources to try and ensure they capture the suspect.
Mathew Masinge