Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A 19-YEAR-OLD homeless man from Harare has appeared in court facing charges of attempting to sell human infants’ body parts disguised as beef to unsuspecting buyers in the city centre.
The accused Stanley Marecha appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Ms Lynne Chinzou who remanded him in custody until November 17 when his trial is expected to begin.
He is being charged with violating a corpse under Zimbabwean law.
According to State prosecutors the disturbing incident occurred in the early hours of July 4, 2025 at the corner of Rezende Street and Speke Avenue in central Harare.
Investigations show that Marecha who is believed to be living on the streets was carrying a large black plastic bag filled with empty bottles when he approached Blessed Paradza (27) a resident of Mbare Flats.
He allegedly offered to sell him what he claimed was beef meat.
Suspicious but intrigued Paradza demanded to see the meat.
Marecha then produced a smaller plastic bag from the larger one.
When Paradza opened it, he was horrified to discover that the contents were not beef but the remains of a dead infant.
Startled by the gruesome revelation Paradza quickly sought help from a passer-by Thomas Bakacheza and together they apprehended Marecha before taking him to Harare Central Police Station where they lodged a report.
Police recovered the plastic bag containing the remains and sent it to Parirenyatwa Hospital Mortuary for examination.
A post-mortem revealed that the bag contained the remains of three dead infants not just one as initially believed.
The source of the infants and the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unknown.
Investigations are ongoing to determine how the remains came into Marecha’s possession.
