Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro in HARARE and Lovemore Kadzura in MUTARE
A TRADITIONAL healer allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl at his house in Shawasha while his wife allegedly held a gun to frighten the teenage victim.
Madzibaba Gathry Dhewa Chiredzero and his wife have since been arrested, in connection with the crime, and appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday.
The case has also resulted in the arrest of the mother of the child.
The woman allegedly took her ailing sister, and her children, to Madzibaba Gathry’s home in January this year.
Madzibaba Gathry performed his rituals and, during the process, allegedly raped the teenager without using protection.
The girl allegedly told her mother about the rape after it happened. However, the mother allegedly did not report the case until it came to light this week through a church member, who heard the confession, and alerted authorities.
This led to the arrest of Madzibaba Gathry, together with his wife, who allegedly held the firearm during the abuse.
Investigators said the mother of the child, who was raped, approached Madzibaba Gathry at his residence, asking him to treat her mentally challenged sister.
She was accompanied by her three children.
Police allege that Madzibaba Gathry began performing rituals and, at around 10pm, he allegedly entered the room where the girl was sleeping.
He undressed himself and ordered the girl to undress as well.
She refused. The following day, according to the police, the teenage girl’s mother left for work, leaving the children at Madzibaba Gathry’s home.
That is when Madzibaba Guthry allegedly raped the teenage girl once.
Meanwhile, an expedition by four friends in Chimanimani National Park ended in tragedy after one of them drowned in a pool beneath the world-acclaimed Bridal Veil Falls.
Nyasha Mashava (22), of Village Extension in Chimanimani, slipped and drowned in the pool on Sunday afternoon. Efforts by his friends to locate him in the estimated three-metre-deep pool were in vain. Acting Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident and said the ZRP Sub Aqua Unit was called to retrieve the body.
“On June 13, 2026 Nyasha Mashava and his three friends – Tyron Chimondo (26), of Tribury Estate, Keith Tongai (33), of Natiew Park Mutare and Irvine Tanaka Usavi (24), of Natview Park – were taking photographs at Bridal Veil Falls.
Nyasha slipped and fell into the pool.
“Chimondo reported the matter to ZRP Chimanimani who attended the scene. Efforts to locate the body were made but were in vain.
“ZRP Support Unit Sub Aqua attended the scene and retrieved the body which was at the bottom of the pool the following day.
“Body was conveyed to Chimanimani District Hospital for postmortem. Investigations are still in progress,” said Asst Inspector Chinyoka.
onlinemedia