adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
A popular taxi driver from Gweru was allegedly murdered in cold blood by unidentified assailants, who made off with his Honda Fit.
The murder of Mr Garikai Mashame (35) of Mkoba 10, Gweru, which is now talk of the town, happened on Monday around 1845 hours along Paradza Road in Mkoba 2 suburb.
Mashame’s body was found by a passer-by lying on the tarmac in a pool of blood with scratches all over his body and three deep stab wounds below the abdomen, chest and neck.
Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the alleged murder of Mr Mashame, who was popularly known as Gari.
“It is alleged that Garikai Mashame aged 35 years of Mkoba 10, Gweru left home for Mkoba 6 Business Centre to conduct his taxi business. On the same day around 1845hours, a passer-by, who was walking along Paradzai Road in Mkoba 2 suburb saw Mashame lying in a pool of blood groaning in pain. He called another passer-by and assisted Mashame,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.
She said the passer-by called for an ambulance and upon arrival; the ambulance crew observed that Mr Mashame was no longer breathing.
Asst Insp Mukwende said a report was made to the police who attended the scene.
“The deceased had several stab wounds all over his body suggesting that he was attacked and left for dead. The body of the deceased was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital for a postmortem,” she said.
Asst Insp Mukwende appealed to members of the public, who might have information that might lead to the arrest of the suspected murderers and the recovery of the Honda Fit vehicle, to approach their nearest police station.
Meanwhile, Asst Insp Mukwende said a suspected commercial worker from Mkoba 5 suburb also in Gweru was allegedly murdered and her body was dumped in Machaya Dam on the outskirts of Mkoba 5.
Asst Insp Mukwende identified the deceased as Ms Chipo Ncube (40) of Mkoba Village 5 suburb, who was allegedly a well-known commercial sex worker in her area.
“On March 15, the body of a woman was found floating in a dam in Mkoba. It is alleged that Chipo Ncube was a commercial sex worker and was staying with her 75-year-old father.
“She left home on March 4 around 1400 hours and never returned,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.
Online Reporter