Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
TWO armed robbers, Sanele Simbarashe Makono (23) and Sterio Joao Mahachi, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court for the brutal murder of police officer, Travor Mundida in Mutare.
The late Mundida, a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit, was off-duty when he was ambushed and stabbed six times by Makono and Mahachi along the railway line in Mutare in September 2024.
The attackers fled to Mozambique, where they sold his cellphone.
Mutare High Court Judge, Justice Isaac Muzenda, convicted Makono and Mahachi of murder – defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) as intentionally or recklessly causing the death of another person, after a full trial.
The duo’s alleged accomplice, Timothy Charles, remains at large, and has since been declared a fugitive from justice.
Prosecutor, Mr Marlven Musarurwa said Makono and Mahachi viciously attacked Mundida, stabbing him on the back, rib cage, and both sides of the backside.
The court heard that Makono and Mahachi, of Harare and Mozambique, respectively, had committed the heinous crime together, and the life sentence reflects the severity of their actions.
The conviction and sentencing bring closure to the victim’s family and serve as a warning to potential offenders.
“On September 10, 2024 and along Mutare-Harare Railway Line, opposite Yeovil medium density suburb, in Mutare, Makono and Mahachi, in the company of Timothy Charles, who is still at large, and whose further particulars are unknown – acting in concert, common purpose and association of each other unlawfully caused the death of Travor Mundida by stabbing him multiple times on the back, left side of the rib cage, right buttock and left hip using unknown weapons.
“On September 10, 2024 at around 12pm, Mundida left his home in Chikanga Phase 2 proceeding to a church gathering at Hobhouse. On the same day around 4pm, his wife, Chiedza Nyambuya, contacted him, and he informed her that he had gone to Mutare CBD, but did not disclose the purpose of the visit. On the same day around 6pm, she contacted him, and he informed her that he was on his way home, but did not mention the means he was using to return home. Around 7pm, she again contacted him, but his mobile number was no longer going through,” said Mr Musarurwa.
He said Mundida’s body was seen lying face down by Mr Passmore Nyabeze the following day.
“On September 11, 2024 at around 5.30am, Mr Passmore Nyabeze was in the company of a person who said was a security guard at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital walking along Mutare-Harare Railway Line heading towards Mwamuka Vegetable Market. He saw Mundida’s body lying facing downwards about 20 metres from the railway line. He went closer and noticed that the deceased was not showing any signs of life. He saw a spoor of trampled grass from the railway line to where the deceased was lying, suggesting he could have been dragged from the railway line to the place he was lying. There was blood on the ground he was lying. His grey T-shirt had bloodstains and he had no shoes. He made a report at Mutare Central Police Station,” said Mr Musarurwa.
Makono was arrested for a different murder case, and upon being interviewed by detectives, he revealed that together with Mahachi and Timothy Charles were the ones who had killed Mundida.
“On September 18, 2024, Makono was arrested for a different of murder case, and upon being interviewed by detectives, he implicated Mahachi and Timothy Charles in Mundida’s murder. Makono made indications at the crime scene. On May 12, 2025, detectives picked information that Mahachi was detained at Mutare Remand Prison on other charges and arrested him. He also implicated Makono and Charles.
He indicated that they searched the deceased and took his wallet, a Samsung cellphone and pair of shoes before fleeing from the scene to Mozambique. He indicated that he sold the cellphone in Mozambique,” said Mr Musarurwa.
