Online Reporter
Aself-styled traditional healer was arrested in Mutare’s Chikanga suburb after being found in possession of two live snakes, which he allegedly used in rituals to help clients, particularly miners, to boost their fortunes.
Gift Kanodaweta (19), who also goes by the name James Malunga and uses the title Sekuru Kamutungunde, was apprehended over the weekend by a member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association for practicing without registration.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrest and noted that the snakes — a puff adder and cobra — have since been handed over to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
Kanodaweta now faces charges of contravening Section 59(1)(b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14).
“On June 26, at approximately 10am in Chikanga, Mutare, Gift Kanodaweta (19) of Kadzinga village, Chief Nyajina, Murewa, was found in possession of a puff adder and a cobra without the required permit,” Asst Insp Chinyoka said.
The arrest followed a report filed by a member of the public, Paradzayi Clever Maendayi, who brought the accused to ZRP Chikanga Police Station.
Maendayi reported that the accused was carrying the two snakes in his satchel, claiming they were essential for his rituals.
Upon questioning, Kanodaweta said he is a traditional healer who, although born and raised in Murewa, claims to have Malawian roots.
He further alleged that while seeking “fortification” in Mozambique in 2024, he was given two eggs that eventually hatched into snakes.
He reportedly admitted to specialising in conducting rituals for individuals in the mining industry to help them generate wealth from their claims.
Following the identification of the reptiles by ZimParks officials, the accused was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department’s Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing. — Manicaland Bureau
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Beitbridge man jailed 15 years for ambushing and raping ex-lover
A 42-year-old Beitbridge man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for ambushing and raping his 19-year-old ex-lover after hiding under her bed.
The incident occurred on May 16, 2026, at Juta village 2, under Chief Sitaudze.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the Beitbridge regional court heard that the victim was alone at her house when she heard suspicious noises.
As she investigated the source of the sounds, her former boyfriend emerged from under her bed.
He blocked her escape, gagged and forced her onto a mattress.
He then covered her face with a blanket before raping her.
Following the assault, the victim contacted her aunt, who accompanied her to ZRP Lutumba Base to report the offence.
Investigators secured forensic evidence from the scene and a medical examination conducted at Beitbridge Hospital was presented in court.
This evidence proved crucial in securing the man’s conviction and sentence. — Matabeleland South Bureau
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Man jailed after brutal machete attack on wife
A man from Nyamandlovu, Umguza district, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after attacking his wife with a machete.
Bornwell Tshuma (60) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Shingai Mutiro charged with attempted murder.
The court heard that on March 30, at approximately 5am, Tshuma confronted his wife Thokozile Ndlovu at her workplace, accusing her of having an extra-marital affair after she failed to return home the previous night.
During the argument, Tshuma struck his wife several times on the head and back with a machete.
The victim reported the assault to the police.
Her medical report was presented in court as evidence.
Tshuma was subsequently convicted on his own plea of guilty.
He was duly slapped with a 36-month sentence, with 18 months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In handing down the sentence, the court considered Tshuma’s advanced age, his role as a family provider and the fact that he was a first-time offender.
Furthermore, the court noted that the medical report did not indicate that the victim’s injuries were life-threatening. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Makokoba youth arrested for delivering a fatal slap
A 38-year-old man, Mandlenkosi Mlotshwa, died following a fatal altercation in Bulawayo’s Makokoba suburb.
Mlotshwa succumbed to his injuries at Mpilo Central Hospital on June 28, three days after he was slapped by a teenager during a heated argument.
According to Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, the incident happened on the evening of June 25.
Mlotshwa was drinking with three friends at his home on Third Street when he clashed with one of his companions.
The friend left the scene only to return with his 19-year-old son, Sibusiso Banda.
Upon arrival, Sibusiso reportedly confronted Mlotshwa and slapped him once.
The slap was so forceful that it caused Mlotshwa to fall backward, striking his head against a wall.
The father and son then fled the scene.
The following morning, Mlotshwa’s relatives discovered him unconscious and unable to speak or see clearly.
He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a traumatic blood clot in his head.
Despite medical efforts, he later passed away.
Police have since arrested Sibusiso in connection with the death.
The deceased’s sister, Sithulisiwe Mlotshwa, expressed the family’s grief, noting that her brother — who served as the family’s breadwinner and leaves behind two school-going children — was needlessly attacked.
In a gesture of reconciliation, the accused’s mother, Rosemary Banda, said the two families have been neighbours for years and are deeply saddened by the loss.
“We are willing to help in any way we can regarding the funeral,” she said.
Inspector Msebele has urged the public to resolve disputes through peaceful means, warning that minor confrontations can have deadly, irreversible consequences.
She also called on families to take a more active role in guiding youth towards non-violent conflict resolution. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Two families devastated over double hanging tragedy
Bulawayo police are investigating two separate cases of death by hanging that occurred within hours of each other in Pumula South and Old Magwegwe.
The incidents, which claimed the lives of a 44-year-old man and a 20-year-old man, highlight the growing concern over mental health issues in the city.
In the first incident, the body of Mandlenkosi Simbarashe Ncube (44) of Emthunzini suburb was discovered in a bushy area between his suburb and Pumula South.
Police reports indicate that Ncube had called his younger brother at approximately 2am on June 27, 2026 to discuss the marital challenges he was experiencing.
While the conversation did not immediately signal an emergency, the family received the tragic news at 8.12am that morning.
In a second, unrelated incident in Old Magwegwe, 20-year-old Dominick Ndlovu was found hanging inside his family home.
According to police, the deceased had an argument with his parents on the evening of June 27 after being accused of abusing drugs, which he denied.
The family retired for the night at 9.30pm, but at 3am, his father discovered his son hanging from the bathroom roof truss while trying to use the toilet.
Police found no visible injuries on Ndlovu’s body and no suicide note was recovered from the premises.
Both bodies were sent for post-mortem at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele urged the public to break the cycle of suffering in silence.
“We continue to urge members of the public to speak to family members, pastors, community leaders or professional counsellors when they are going through emotional difficulties,” Insp Msebele said.
She further emphasised the importance of families remaining alert to behavioural changes and fostering open communication.
“Most of these situations can be prevented if people talk before problems become overwhelming,” she added, reiterating that suicide is never a solution to personal or family challenges. — Bulawayo Bureau
