Langa Mabena
Tafadzwa Chidawa, a former police officer and private investigator, is facing increasing scrutiny after a Zimbabwean man, Farai Sanyangore, reportedly d!ed shortly after attending his Matrix Disciplinary Camp.
Sanyangore’s grieving parents revealed that a post-mortem examination confirmed he suffered a fatal head injury.
Medical reports indicate that bleeding mixed with his brain tissue, ultimately leading to his death.
His sudden passing has raised serious concerns about what happens at the controversial camp, placing Chidawa under intense public and legal pressure.
While Chidawa is under fire for Sanyangore’s mysterious death, he is already behind bars in connection with a separate criminal case. He remains in custody as his fraud trial drags on, after his bail was revoked for skipping court for over a year.
Chidawa, also known as “Kedha,” is jointly charged with Paradza Passmore Matubu, Perseverance Chisango, Malvern Mutanda, and Francis Takura in a US$20,000 fraud case. Mutanda is still on the run, while Takura is already serving a 36-year sentence for robbery.
The State alleges that the accused orchestrated a scheme to steal US$20,000 from Melody Matanhire in 2020.
Court documents state that Matanhire, who was romantically involved with Mutanda, approached him for assistance in cleaning US$100,000 in soiled banknotes. Mutanda allegedly told her the process required US$20,000 in clean cash.
On August 27, 2020, Matanhire secured the money and met Mutanda at Blue Ridge Lodge for the supposed cleaning process. However, Mutanda had allegedly conspired with Chidawa, Takura, Matubu, and Chisango to steal the funds.
When Matanhire handed over the money, Mutanda placed it in a cooler box. Moments later, the other accused men reportedly stormed the lodge, pretending to be police officers. They allegedly manhandled Mutanda, seized the cooler box containing the money, and fled the scene.
On Monday, Chidawa took the witness stand, distancing himself from the allegations. He claimed he was sh0cked to learn that his police identification cards had been found in Takura’s car.
“I only know Takura as my former colleague at ZRP. I have no knowledge of this case,” he told regional magistrate Vongai Guwuriri.
Takura backed Chidawa’s claims, alleging that the police planted the documents in his car. He further claimed that Matanhire fabricated the story about the stolen money to cover up an affair with her boyfriend.
“I was arrested in the Central Business District, but the police drove my car to Highlands Police Station. When they searched it, they found nothing. I only signed a seizure form for the vehicle,” Takura testified.
As Chidawa remains locked up, his legal troubles are piling up. With the fraud case still ongoing, the disturbing circumstances surrounding Sanyangore’s death at his disciplinary camp have sparked widespread debate.
Authorities have yet to disclose whether an official investigation into the camp’s practices will be launched, but pressure is mounting on Chidawa to provide answers.
The trial in the fraud case continues on Wednesday, with prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu leading the case. (www.afrogazette.co.zw)
Online Reporter