Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
IN the shadows of Guruve, Anymore Zvitsva remains a figure of terror, a serial murderer whose actions have cast long, dark shadows over the lives he touched.
One of his intended victims, Catherine Musonza, a 49-year-old widow, struggles daily in a new village, haunted by the trauma of that fateful night in December 2025.
Zvitsva broke into Catherine’s home, intent on raping her and possibly killing her.
Panic and desperation filled the air as she screamed for help.
Her 12-year-old daughter, and 20-year-old son, along with her seven-year-old grandchild, responded instinctively, shouting and creating commotion, which terrified the intruder and forced him to flee.
That night marked the end of their peace.
Fearing for their safety, the family sought refuge with the village head, Pheneous Mupunga.
After several days, they realised they needed to leave Mukambi Village behind.
Catherine sold what little she had left to find a new home in Midzi Village, under Chiweshe, but the ghosts of her past were not far behind.
As she struggled to build a new life, rumours and hostility followed her.
Some villagers labelled her the “sister of Zvitsva,” even though they share no blood ties.
Catherine secured transfer letters for her daughter and grandchild, who were beneficiaries of the BEAM programme.
But a challenge emerged once more.
The new headmaster refused to grant them free education, putting their future at risk.
“My life has been miserable since my husband passed away in 2021,” Catherine said.
“Living alone as a widow made me a target of Zvitsva.
“Thankfully, my children’s voices stopped him that night, but my troubles continued.”
In Chiweshe, Catherine faced new challenges.
Villagers accused her of harbouring “evil spirits.”
Rumours spread that she was entertaining men in her home.
Exhausted and emotionally drained, she survived on the scant support she received from local leaders, but it was never enough.
Her grandchild now stays in a safe house under the Musasa Project, while Catherine and her daughter navigate the complexities of education without the financial means to pay fees.
Demonstrations for Catherine’s removal from the village became frequent, mounting the pressure on her fragile existence.
“They want me gone but I cannot return to Guruve, where we were never permanent residents,” she said.
Her son’s whereabouts remain unknown.
He was last reported to be staying with a friend in Epworth, he too has been swept into the chaos.
Caught in the aftermath of his capture, where villagers handed Zvitsva to law enforcement agencies, Catherine’s life continues to unravel under the weight of fear and societal rejection. As Zvitsva awaits trial for multiple counts of murder and rape, Catherine seeks solace in her remaining strength, determined not to be defined by the darkness that has enveloped her life.
