ASHER MOYO
MUTARE-Police in Manicaland have arrested eight illegal panners in connection with a murder case that occurred on January 8, in Marange.
Manicaland Provincial Deputy Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the death of Morgan Njani Manyere (22) of Maguduru Village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera following an attack by his colleagues.
Manyere was assaulted all over the body after he was accused of stealing a cellphone belonging to Tawanda Mafa (18).
Ass Inspector Chinyoka said Mafa of Muzondiwa Village under Chief Hama in Chirumanzu lost his mobile phone and suspected that Manyere was the culprit.
Circumstances are that on January 8, at Chingombe Business Centre, Mafa lost his cellphone and suspected that Manyere was the one who had stolen it. Mafa teamed up with other three colleagues and started assaulting Manyere all over the body using a wooden log.
Manyere denied that he had stolen the cellphone. The four dragged him to an illegal disused mining shaft about 3km deep. The four together with the other seven makorokozas tortured Manyere and forced him to admit that he had stolen the cellphone and threw it in another shaft.
Mafa together with the other ten accused persons threw Manyere into the said shaft but he could not find the cellphone. They pulled him out and continued assaulting him. Manyere became unconscious. The eleven ran away fearing that he was dead.
Manyere’s uncle Obvious Njanji started to look for him but could not locate him at his usual place. He later found him dead in a bushy area near a mining shaft.
Mafa and the other seven were arrested.
Ass Inspector Chinyoka said the other three accused persons are still at large. He warned members of the public not to take law into their own hands. He said they should report any case and avoid instant justice.
Meanwhile, a 27 year old woman from Zimunya was found dead after she went missing for five days.
The incident happened on December 30, 2023. Gladys Manyaire of Mwaramba Village under Chief Zimunya in Mutare had a domestic dispute with her husband Stephen Musimwa on December 24 2023 over infidelity.
Musimwa left for Mutare where he works. On December 29, 2023, Musimwa told Manyaire to come to Mutare on December 30 so that they process a birth certificate for their child.
That was the last time Manyaire was seen.
On January 4, 2024 Manyaire’s body was discovered by a ten year old boy in an advanced state of decomposition.
The body was in a stream connecting Musengezi River. The matter was reported to ZRP Mutare Rural who attended the scene.
Ass Inspector Chinyoka encouraged people to solve their disputes amicably.
