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A Zvishavane-based pastor has been hauled to court on charges of aggravated indecent assault after he reportedly sodomised an 18-year-old man from Kwekwe at gunpoint.
The heinous incident reportedly occurred on August 11, 2025 at the victim’s home in Redcliff, where the pastor was
visiting.
According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, the victim woke up to find himself being caressed by the pastor.
When he questioned his actions, the accused allegedly said the victim was “too handsome” and that his lack of a beard made him feel as though he was in bed with a woman.
The pastor is accused of then forcibly removing the victim’s shorts and threatening to shoot him if he screamed or told anyone.
“He then allegedly forced the victim to lie on his stomach and sexually assaulted him three times.
“After the third assault, the accused person allegedly told the victim to perform a sexual act on him,” NPAZ said.
Out of fear, the victim complied.
The accused then left the victim’s home at 6.30am.
Later that day, the victim disclosed the ordeal to his aunt.
The matter was reported to Redcliff Police Station, leading to the pastor’s arrest. — Midlands Bureau
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Mother and son car theft ring busted
A suspected car theft and smuggling ring, allegedly operated by a woman and her son, has been busted by detectives in Mutare.
The pair — identified as Junior Makochera and her son Marshal Munashe Munyuru — were arrested in connection with the theft of five luxury vehicles.
The cars were stolen in South Africa and smuggled into Zimbabwe.
The vehicles that were recovered include a Toyota Fortuner, Ford Raptor, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota GD6 Legend 50 and a Ford Ranger.
South African owners of the Fortuner, Raptor and Mercedes-Benz have already been identified.
Investigations are ongoing to establish owners of the two remaining vehicles.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said detectives received a tip-off on Makochera’s alleged involvement.
Makochera, who operates a car sales business in Bindura, was found to be at the centre of the smuggling operation, which led to the recovery of the stolen vehicles.
On July 25, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Mutare received information that Munyuru, who was wanted by the police in Bindura for fraud, was living in Dangamvura and was suspected of being in possession five smuggled motor vehicles.
Detectives searched Munyuru’s residence and found car keys for a Toyota Fortuner and a Ford Raptor in his bedroom.
He told the police that the five vehicles belonged to his mother, Junior Makochera.
When contacted, his mother admitted the vehicles were hers and said she was on her way to Mutare with the relevant import documents.
Detectives later recovered a white Ford Raptor with no registration numbers at the house in Dangamvura.
Checks confirmed it was not in the Central Vehicle Registry system. Munyuru then led detectives to a white Toyota Fortuner, with registration number AFY 3564, at a nearby car park.
Keys for another vehicle (ACY 3296), which was also not in the registry system, were found inside the Fortuner.
The registration plates AFY 3564, affixed to the Fortuner, actually belong to a silver BMW X5 owned by Pauline Vimbe from Kwekwe, who could not be reached.
Munyuru further informed detectives that he had sold a Mercedes-Benz to a person named Juma. He also claimed to own a grey Mercedes-Benz W205, which his nephew, Ivin Mobvana, had taken out.
He added that his mother had driven his Toyota GD6 Legend 50 back to Harare.
Later the same day, police received a tip that the grey Mercedes-Benz was parked at Munyuru’s residence.
Detectives went there and recovered the vehicle from Patience Munyuru, who indicated that it belonged to the accused.
Police then engaged Interpol, which confirmed that the Toyota Fortuner was stolen in South Africa on June 11, 2023.
The Ford Raptor was stolen on November 15, 2023 and the grey Mercedes-Benz was stolen on October 11, 2024 — all from South Africa.
Makochera was arrested on August 9 in Dangamvura after failing to provide proof of sale or other ownership documents for the vehicles, which she claimed she had purchased.
The remaining vehicles were recovered hidden at her relatives’ homes.
On August 16, detectives made another follow-up and recovered a Toyota GD6 Legend 50 in Kuhudzai village, under Chief Zimunya.
It was hidden and left with Sibusisiwe Muzhunduki, who said it was dropped off at night for safekeeping two weeks prior.
The owner of the house, Munyaradzi Ndambami, said his mother-in-law, Makochera, had given him the car to keep.
On the same day, detectives also recovered a white Ford Ranger from Ernest Muchakuya in Chikanga, Mutare.
Muchakuya said his friend, Pauline Makochera, had asked him to hold the vehicle for her aunt, Junior Makochera, because her son, Munyuru, was “abusing her motor vehicles”.
Both Makochera and Munyuru have appeared in court facing charges of motor vehicle theft. — Manica Post
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Love rival stabbed, stoned to death
Two men from Inyathi are facing charges of murder after allegedly teaming up to kill a love rival in a brutal attack that has left the community shell-shocked.
Kudzie Takaendesa (24) and Fanuel Moyo (30) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele.
They were not asked to plead and remanded in custody to September 8.
The pair were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
It is the State’s case that Moyo went to his girlfriend’s home intending to spend the night. Upon arrival, he allegedly found her with another man, identified as Admire Ndlangamandla. A fight broke out as Moyo tried to attack the two, but Ndlangamandla managed to overpower him and escaped.
Consumed by rage, Moyo reportedly called his friend Takaendesa and recounted the humiliating encounter. Takaendesa responded and the two armed themselves with a knife and stones before heading to Ndlangamandla’s family home.
It is alleged they confronted Ndlangamandla, pelting him with stones before setting his bedroom hut on fire. They then repeatedly stabbed him all over his body. Ndlangamandla bled profusely and died at the scene.
The court heard that the pair attempted to cover up the crime by dumping the body at a neighbour’s place before fleeing. Police launched a manhunt and quickly arrested the two men. — Bulawayo Bureau
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