Online Reporter
Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
POLICE in Bikita have arrested three women, including two elderly women, for the murder of a four-year-old girl who was allegedly poisoned with “toxic rice” in an act of revenge stemming from a dispute over straying goats.
Violet Gamera (60), Chamunorwa Kwanga (60) and Regina Tavengerwei (30) from Mandinyenya Village, Bikita, allegedly conspired to poison the child, Sabina Maziva (4), as an act of revenge against the child’s parents.
According to police reports, the motive behind the heinous act was a long-standing dispute over straying goats that had reportedly destroyed Gamera’s crops.
The child’s parents were said to have been in conflict with Gamera over the destruction of her crops by their goats.
Preliminary investigations revealed that on October 1, 2025, Gamera allegedly gave the victim poisoned rice, which led to her hospitalisation and eventual death on October 5, 2025.
National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday.
Comm Nyathi said the matter came to light after the community grew suspicious and urged the victim’s parents to report the case.
“The victim was buried on October 8, 2025. It emerged that the child may have been poisoned, prompting the community to refer the matter to Chief Ziki, who instructed the victim’s mother to report the matter to the police, who have since recovered rat poison and a liquid substance suspected to be a cotton pesticide, believed to have been used in the commission of the offence.”
