Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, [email protected]
MIDLANDS Province holds the highest number of murder cases across the country, and according to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), 90 percent of these cases involve the use of lethal weapons.
The prosecution authority posted a series of murder cases last week, where several individuals have since been convicted and sentenced.
One of the cases involves a police officer who reportedly killed a suspect during an operation. Mitch Tafirenyika was arraigned before a Gweru magistrate on charges of murder last week. It was stated that Tafirenyika, who was aged 28 at the time he committed the offence, was part of a crack team tasked with apprehending two armed robbery suspects, namely Tichaona Muzhanduki and Doubt Munsaka, at a farm located in the city.
“Tafirenyika and a colleague were armed with service rifles and proceeded to the farm, where upon arrival they split into four groups and surrounded the house. The now deceased opened the door after the police had knocked on the door,” read the document.
Tafirenyika is reported to have immediately opened fire and shot the deceased in the chest and arms, killing him instantly. Tafirenyika will receive his sentence this Friday.
In another case, a 34-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for two counts of murder. Courage Hwami appeared before the High Court sitting at Gweru, facing a count for murder and attempted murder. On the first count, it was reported that on December 4, 2023, Hwami, the deceased, who was aged 19 at the time of his death, and the complainant were at Vhudzijena Night Club in Mkoba 16 Business Centre. While at the club, a misunderstanding arose between Hwami and the deceased.
“The two fought, and the security officer at the club restrained them. After a while, the accused person charged towards the deceased, who was with the complainant, and stabbed him with a Columbia knife once on the left side of the chest and on the back,” read the document.
It was reported that Hwami gave chase to the complainant and stabbed him once in the chest outside the bar before fleeing the scene.
“The deceased died on the spot as a result of the attack. A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the accused person.”
Hwami was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the first count of murder and was given an additional 10-year sentence for count two.
In another case, a Gokwe man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for culpable homicide when he appeared before the High Court judge sitting at the court in the district. John Gwatidzo’s sentence will, however, serve an effective 6 years in jail, after two years were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence.
“On the 25th of August 2022, the accused person and the deceased had an argument while trying to negotiate to buy beer on credit at a shop in a complex they were renting. The accused person dragged the now deceased outside the shop and tripped him to the ground before strangling him. He then struck the deceased with a stone several times on the head before leaving him unconscious. The deceased succumbed to the injuries on the 1st of September 2022. The accused person was arrested on the 6th of September 2022,” read the document.
In Mvuma, one Trust Khaki was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering his 15-month-old daughter. Khaki committed the offence in 2021, after his wife had left the infant in his custody while she was collecting the family’s share of social welfare donations.
“When the deceased’s mother returned, she found the accused holding the deceased, who was struggling to breathe, with bruises on her chin, a swollen left side, a bump on her forehead, and a scratch on her back. The deceased was rushed to her grandmother, where they established that she was already dead,” read the document.
It was discovered during investigations that the deceased had been struck once on the head with a blunt object and several times all over the body with an unknown object. It was also established that the deceased had been sexually abused.
The NPA urged members of the public to desist from engaging in violent activities and resolve disputes through the intervention of third parties.
Online Reporter