adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A CHIREDZI woman was found dead with semen in her private parts while her five-month-old baby also lay dead beside her in a suspected double murder and rape.The bodies of Vimbai Taruvinga Bande, 30, and the infant, Tinomutenda Mapfumo of Village 2 Crown Range, Triangle, were found lying in a pool of blood in a bushy area on Monday, two days after the gruesome incident, police sources said.
Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna could neither deny nor confirm the incident, which close sources say occurred on Saturday at around midday.
A neighbour who requested anonymity said on the day, Taruvinga left home together with her baby while accompanying a friend Constance Masvasvuke, 26, of Village 10 Pensions area.
“After about a kilometre, the two separated and Vimbai, who had her baby on her back, went into the bush to fetch firewood,” said the neighbour.
“While in the bush, an unknown assailant pounced on Taruvinga and raped her before killing her and the baby.”
The neighbour said two days later, Masvasvuke went to Taruvinga’s homestead only to find that she had not returned since the day they separated.
“She went back to where they had parted ways and spotted Taruvinga’s jacket on top of a bundle of firewood just beside the path towards the village,” said the neighbour.
Another villager said Masvasvuke called Taruvinga by her name hoping she was somewhere near and would respond but got no response.
“She rushed to Nicholas Tawonabonde where she reported the matter. The pair teamed up and searched for Taruvinga and her baby,” said the villager.
“After a while they discovered the two’s lifeless bodies covered with dry mopani tree branches. Blood was still oozing from their mouths and ears. Tinomutenda’s head was deformed while Taruvinga’s panties and private parts had semen, suggesting that she could have been raped before being killed.”
The neighbours said a report was made to Triangle Police Station and the officers attended the scene before taking the two bodies to Collin Saunders Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
derick.khumalo