Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
A 25-year-old man from Gokwe North was fatally stabbed by two assailants after intervening to stop them from raping a 16-year-old girl.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the tragic incident.
“Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a case of murder where a 25-year-old man was killed for rescuing a girl who was facing imminent rape by two men. This occurred on December 18 around 6pm in Cheuchi Village, under Chief Nenyunga in Gokwe North,” he said.
Inspector Mahoko said on the fateful day, two men — one identified only as Ernest of Simuchembo 1 and an unknown accomplice — confronted a 16-year-old girl (name withheld to protect her identity) from the same village and demanded to be intimate with her.
“The girl screamed for help and Tobias Cheuchi (25) of Cheuchi Village, Chief Nenyunga, Gokwe North heard the distress call from the gardens and went to investigate. He found the two suspects holding the victim. They released her after his intervention. This did not go down well with the suspects who charged towards Tobias Cheuchi, armed with okapi knives and stabbed him several times on the chest and stomach before fleeing,” he said.
Cheuchi was discovered by his brother lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to Nenyunga Clinic using an ox-drawn cart.
“Sadly, he died along the way. The suspects are still at large. We call upon members of the public, who might have information, which may lead to the arrest of the suspects to pass it to any police station,” said Insp Mahoko.
derick.khumalo