Sundaymail Editor
A TRAGIC incident occurred in Chimanimani on April 14, where a man, identified as Phineas Mutambadzure (49), died after a brutal assault by his tenant, Learnmore Muyambo, over a missing satchel.
Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident.
The accused is understood to have returned home with alcohol and invited his landlord and his younger brother, Luke, (44) for a beer drinking session.
“Muyambo returned home with alcohol and invited the deceased and his younger brother to drink together. The trio consumed alcohol in the dining room until around 1am, at which point Luke went to bed, leaving the two still drinking,” Asst Insp Chinyoka said.
An argument arose around 3.30am when Muyambo enquired about his satchel, which he believed was in Mutambadzure’s possession.
“They both went outside arguing and the argument escalated into violence. Muyambo grabbed a stick and allegedly used it to assault Mutambadzure all over his body. Rumbidzai Chikangaisa (33), Mutambadzure’s niece and a neighbour witnessed the assault after going outside to investigate the commotion,” he said.
Chikangaisa then alerted Luke, who found his elder brother lying on the ground.
Muyambo, meanwhile, claimed to have found the missing satchel in the dining room.
He quickly gathered his belongings and fled the scene.
The victim was subsequently taken to Rusitu Mission Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The incident was reported to Chimanimani police, who attended the scene and recovered 13 broken pieces of sticks believed to be the weapons used in the assault.
Police are now appealing for information that could lead to Muyambo’s arrest. — Manica Post
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Drunk security guard shoots woman dead, rapes another
A MINING compound in Matobo became a horror scene on the night of April 14 when a security guard allegedly went on the rampage.
A drunk Lloyd Mutsengi (50) reportedly arrived for duty and was turned away by fellow workers.
However, instead of going home, he allegedly stole a shotgun from a colleague before confronting two women in the compound.
He threatened to rape them.
One of the victims fought back and tragically paid with her life — she was fatally shot.
The horror did not end there.
Mutsengi allegedly went on to sexually assault the second woman before vanishing into the night.
Police have since launched a manhunt for him.
“This is a disturbing case of extreme violence and sexual abuse. We are appealing to anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lloyd Mutsengi to come forward and report to their nearest police station,” said the police on X.
The community is now calling for tighter security and screening of personnel at mines. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Marondera knife-wielding rapist jailed for 15 years
A Marondera man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his co-worker twice at knifepoint.
The perpetrator, aged 20, broke into the 29-year-old victim’s home in the early hours of March 27, 2025 while she was asleep and subjected her to a brutal attack that has shocked the community.
Police reported that the accused, who was armed with a knife, forced his way into the woman’s house at 1.30am and forced her to be intimate with him.
Following the initial assault, he callously allowed her to go outside to use the toilet, only to drag her back inside and rape her a second time.
He reportedly threatened her not to divulge the heinous crime before fleeing into the night.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the courageous survivor sought help from a neighbour and subsequently reported the ordeal to the police, who quickly apprehended the accused.
The Marondera Magistrates’ Court sentenced the man to 15 years in prison. — Mashonaland East Bureau
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Man brutally assaults wife with toolbox
A Nkulumane woman is fortunate to be alive after she was allegedly brutally assaulted with a toolbox by her husband, Sam Sabelo Sibanda (37).
The woman was assaulted in front of her sister.
Sibanda appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze on domestic violence charges stemming from the terrifying incident that left his wife, Nomagugu Dube, battered and bruised.
The alleged assault occurred on March 20, around 7pm.
Prosecutor Christina Manyika told the court that Sibanda arrived home intoxicated and aggressive.
The situation escalated when his wife questioned his drinking.
“He started shouting at Dube and when she asked him if he was still drinking alcohol, he snapped,” Manyika said.
In a fit of rage, Sibanda allegedly grabbed a toolbox and struck her on the chest before continuing to assault her with a series of blows.
“He went on to assault her until she was no longer able to defend herself. During the assault, the complainant’s phone was damaged,” Manyika added.
Dube sustained a swollen back and arm from the beating.
Sibanda has not yet entered a formal plea and has been remanded in custody for trial.
The court is expected to determine whether his outburst was premeditated or solely fuelled by alcohol and anger. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Robbers raid tobacco bales
Five unknown armed robbers ambushed a tobacco delivery truck along the Rusape-Ruura road, stealing 41 bales of tobacco worth at least US$17 010.
The incident, which occurred around 2am on April 7, involved a truck that was being driven by Blessing Mutyakureva (24) en route to Sub-Sahara Auction Floors in Rusape.
The robbers blocked the road using large stones.
When the vehicle crew stopped to clear the obstruction, the five assailants emerged from nearby bushes armed with knobkerries and machetes.
They smashed the truck’s front windshield and severely assaulted Mutyakureva, who sustained serious injuries, including the loss of two front teeth and a deep cut below his right eye.
His three colleagues suffered swollen ankles and back pain and were admitted to
Rusape General Hospital before being discharged.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the robbery, saying the five unidentified suspects fled with both the truck and tobacco.
“The robbery occurred on April 7, at around 2am, when the truck, driven by 24-year-old Blessing Mutyakureva and transporting 41 tobacco bales to Sub-Sahara Tobacco Auction Floors in Rusape, was attacked near Mbuya Tandi Farm along the Rusape-Ruura road,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
“Information indicates that the road was blocked with four large stones. When Mutyakureva stopped to remove them, five men wearing balaclavas and armed with knobkerries and machetes emerged from the
bushes and broke the truck’s front
windshield.”
Mutyakureva was brutally attacked.
The other passengers — Cloud Nyamano (33); Winfield Tanavapi (45); and Zvenyika Mungoriyo (40), the chairperson of the Sub-Sahara cluster — were ordered out of the truck.
According to Asst Insp Chinyoka, Mungoriyo was the first to disembark and immediately fled into the darkness, with the robbers pursuing him and throwing stones.
Although they struck him on the back and ankles, they failed to capture him.
“The remaining three victims were tied up with shoelaces. Mutyakureva and Nyamano’s cellphones were confiscated and the assailants drove the truck towards Rusape, leaving the victims lying helplessly on the road,” the police spokesperson explained.
Mungoriyo, after escaping, contacted the Zimbabwe Republic Police Inyati, who attended the scene.
Mutyakureva and Mungoriyo were treated at Rusape General Hospital before being discharged.
The tobacco bales and truck have not been recovered yet.
Police are currently investigating the case and are appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the arrest of the five suspects.
“The police are still investigating the
case and urge anyone with information or related details that could assist in apprehending the five fugitives to contact their
nearest police station,” added Asst Insp Chinyoka.
This incident follows a recent appeal by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) urging tobacco growers to use board-registered transporters to safeguard their produce and minimise losses due to theft, as registered transporters often have goods-in-transit insurance.
TIMB’s appeal came after reports of farmers being robbed by individuals posing as transporters. — Manica Post
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