adminhimself to make sure he was not dreaming and that his ears had not betrayed him.
Indeed, he was awake and the news had spread across Nhekairo Village like a veld fire.
The notorious serial robber and rapist, Blessing Tsikai (30), had been arrested.
Mhende, like an overjoyed toddler, leaped out of the house to get to the source of the good news, who was standing outside his hut.
“Where was he arrested?” he asked with the enthusiasm of a teenager.
Gogo Tunha replied: “At a compound across the Mozambican border. He was spotted by someone from Marondera who knew police where looking for him here. The man informed the Mozambican police leading to his arrest.
“In fact, they are going to parade him at the shops for identification by his victims.”
That was all old Mhende needed to identify Tsikai and at least tell him that “mhosva hairovi”, as the long arm of the law had stretched beyond borders and caught him.
At Dendenyore Gumbonzvanda Shopping Centre, there was jubilation as the villagers celebrated the end of a terror reign.
The arrest of Tsikai and incarceration for an effective 42 years brought back joy to Matsine, Nhekairo, Maradza and Shiri villages, the nearby Zairimwe and Gumbonzvanda (Dendenyore) shopping centres.
The arrest came as good news to the villagers who were now living in fear of the serial rapist.
Sabhuku Nhekairo, Mr Christopher Nhekairo, said since the arrest of Tsikai, sanity had returned to his village.
“The entire village was living in fear of that boy. People feared for their children and women. Instead of focusing on productive projects, the villagers were concentrating on securing their homes.
“As a father figure, I was pained because I could not provide them with a solution. Go through the village and you will see that our women and children are now happy. They are going through their daily business without fear.
“The boy was bad news and we hope he stays in prison until he reforms,” he said.
Even his aunt, Mrs Irene Meda, is happy that Tsikai had been taken away from the community and that his arrest had brought a new chapter of peace in the area and the family.
“I had faced the wrath of the village despite my genuine efforts to ensure he was arrested and justice prevailed. It was the most difficult moment for our family. We
had no answers to the multiple questions that people and victims were asking. The villagers thought we were protecting him.
“We strongly suspect his actions had an effect on the deteriorating health of his uncle who passed away last month. Even his brothers and sisters, who had stopped visiting the area for fear of police and victimisation, are now able to come home and spend time with us here. Surely, this should be good news,” she said.
Sekuru Timothy — a neighbour of the Tsikai family — said although they had close relations, he was happy that Tsikai had been sent to jail for causing untold suffering to the village that he called home.
“He grew up here but to rebel against everyone in the village was painful, especially for us his relatives. I wonder what we had failed him that he turned against us,” he added.
A member of the neighbourhood watch committee, Constable Never John, said there was jubilation at Gumbonzvanda shops when Tsikai was paraded following his arrest. He said the parade was, however, short-lived after people threatened to attack him for their loss of wealth and the pain he inflicted on them.
“Clearly, the arrest was a relief for the people of this area. What is most welcome is that our people can carry on their day-to-day work without fear. Schoolchildren and women can move around freely.
“This is the freedom that we have always yearned for. One can even disembark buses at Zaire Shopping Centre and walk to Mount St Mary’s at anytime of the day.
“Even the cases of housebreaking have gone down in the area. I believe heavy police presence in the few past months has acted as a deterrent to the perpetrators of crime,” Constable John said.
Tsikai had gone underground after police increased patrols in the area before his arrest in Mozambique.
During his reign of terror Tsikai operated guerrilla style — hitting one area, lying low and resurfacing in another village.
No one was safe and the majority of the people in the area around Dendenyore (Gumbonzvanda) Shopping Centre had been forced to install burglar bars on windows of their bedrooms to protect themselves from their own, Tsikai aka Jah B or the ex-convict.
Those living alone made sure they were indoors at sunset in fear of the serial rapist. The bulk of the robberies were committed in the wee hours of the morning, making it difficult for the victims to seek help.
Last month, Tsikai appeared at the Marondera Regional Court where he was convicted on four counts of armed robbery, another four of rape and a single count of malicious damage to property on plea.
Tsikai, who was previously jailed for 36 months for armed robbery and released in October 2011, was said to be normal and in fully control of his faculties, despite claiming he was possessed.
In passing judgment, magistrate Mavis Kadumba rightly pointed: “People like you (Tsikai) have to be removed from society for a very long time.”
Magistrate Kadumba handed him 50 years and nine months in prison of which the eight were suspended. Consequently the notorious Hwedza robber and rapist will serve an effective 42 and nine months.
People in the packed gallery gave a sigh of relief as Tsikai was pushed through the backdoor to start his life behind bars.
Surely, the menace had been taken away from them and one could see from the relief on their faces that they were delighted and hoped the long stay in prison would reform the young man, their son who had indeed become their greatest tormentor.
Online Reporter