Online Reporter
A Luveve family is still in shock after an alleged witch appeared inside their locked house following a late-night cleansing ritual conducted by a traditional healer, Gogo Chihoro.
Homeowner Samantha Ndlovu said she had gone for days without peaceful sleep, as she was haunted by strange occurrences and bad luck that even affected her mining business.
She was advised to consult the Harare-based traditional healer, who periodically visits Bulawayo.
“I was told about a woman in Harare who does cleansing and healing, and that she sometimes comes to Bulawayo. I immediately arranged the money for consultation,” Samantha explained.
“I was mining every day, but the boys kept saying the belt had no money. That is when I decided to visit Gogo Chihoro,” she said.
According to Samantha, the healer instructed her to bring her children for steaming and to have her home cleansed.
“The following week, I returned with the children. They steamed as well and I asked for the house to be cleansed,” she said.
The cleansing ceremony was performed at her home.
Later that night, the family heard a noise as if a thief had entered.
“I woke up to find a naked person I know inside the house. I was shocked. She apologised and asked to leave, but the house was locked — we did not know how she got in,” Samantha recounted.
She claims her fortunes immediately changed after the incident. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Trio caged after teen reveals dark family secret
A family secret buried for a long time was exposed in court after a teenage boy revealed how his uncles allegedly beat a relative to death over a missing US$20.
The shocking confession led to the arrest and imprisonment of three Tshabalala men.
Cosmas Nyoni, Tichaona Gwafa and Tichaona Murisi appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Naison Chivayo facing a murder charge.
It was 18-year-old Kudakwashe Gwafa who stunned the court with chilling details of what happened that night.
The teenager, who had reportedly been chased away from home after a family dispute, testified that the trio accused the deceased of stealing US$20 before tying his hands to his legs and taking turns assaulting him for hours.
“They tied his hands to his legs and beat him with a rope and a baton. They even put ice cubes inside his underwear, saying it would stop him from dying,” Kudakwashe told the court.
He said the man later collapsed.
“They carried him and placed him on his bed. I woke up after midnight and realised he had died. They warned me not to tell anyone and told neighbours he had died in his sleep,” he added.
The court heard that the incident occurred on August 4, 2023, shortly after 8pm, when the deceased arrived home and a misunderstanding ensued over the missing money.
Prosecutors said the three men tied him up, assaulted him with a rope and baton, poured alcohol on him and shoved ice cubes into his trousers.
“They later untied him, held him and pushed him against a wall, hitting his head. He fell unconscious,” the court was told.
He was placed on his bed, where he later died.
The accused denied the allegations.
“We did not assault him. He came home drunk with wounds and had been assaulted before,” they claimed, insisting they had a medical report to prove it.
At the end of the trial, Justice Chivayo ruled that the State had failed to prove the essential elements of murder and reduced the charge to culpable homicide.
Each man was sentenced to eight years in prison, with three years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
They will each serve an effective five-year jail term. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Buhera man accused of inexplicably killing 10-year-old sibling
A 30-year-old man from Mukanwa village, under Chief Nyashanu, has been arrested for allegedly killing his 10-year-old brother while he slept.
Evans Munyadzi is accused of murdering his younger brother Tapiwa at their family home on January 31.
Manicaland acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrest.
The deceased was a Grade Five learner at Chimombe Primary School.
He lived with his mother, Virginia Thandi (50), and brother.
On the night of January 30, the siblings retired to bed in the same room.
The following morning, around 5am, Thandi went to the family garden, leaving the siblings asleep.
Evans, however, followed her shortly after. “Upon seeing him, the mother instructed Evans to return home and wake his brother so he could join them in the garden,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
Evans returned to the homestead but soon came back to the garden claiming the child was unresponsive.
Upon rushing home, the mother found the boy lying lifeless on the floor, covered with a blanket.
She observed visible bruising on his neck and froth around his mouth and nose.
A report was immediately lodged at the ZRP Mutiusinazita base.
Officers from CID Buhera and ZRP Muzokomba attended the scene and noted the body was lying on its back and had bruises on the neck that were consistent with strangulation.
The body was transported to Murambinda Mission Hospital for a post-mortem.
Evans was arrested at the scene.
While investigations are ongoing, police are still working to establish the motive for the killing. — Manica Post
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Silobela teen jailed 20 years for Christmas Day murder
A Silobela teenager beat a 55-year-old man to death at a Christmas Day gathering.
The High Court sitting in Gweru convicted Samson Simbarashe Tichagwa (18) of murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison, bringing a brutal festive-day killing case to a grim close.
According to court proceedings, the teen acted violently on December 25, 2025, around 9pm, in Chief Gobo’s area, Silobela.
Tichagwa and the victim were sharing a casual drink when the teenager suddenly kicked the older man, sending him crashing to the ground. As the victim lay helpless, Tichagwa allegedly picked up a white steel chair and repeatedly smashed him.
A neighbour who rushed to stop the attack and pleaded for calm nearly paid with his life. Instead of backing down, the teen turned on the Good Samaritan, choking and pinning him to the ground, leaving villagers too terrified to intervene.
In a final savage act, Tichagwa reportedly returned to his homestead, armed himself with a small axe and struck the already injured man on the left leg.
The badly wounded victim was later dragged about 800 metres to his home.
He died while waiting for transport to hospital.
The High Court described the attack as senseless and extreme, noting the use of multiple weapons and the total disregard for human life.
In sentencing Tichagwa, the court emphasised that unchecked violence within communities continues to destroy families and futures, particularly when young people resort to brutality over minor disputes.
The motive for the killing was not established. — Midlands Bureau
