Zimbabwean police are investigating several serious incidents across the country, ranging from a fatal stabbing between school students to a religiously motivated murder. The events highlight a range of challenges facing law enforcement and underscore the need for community engagement and crime prevention strategies.
In Masvingo, a 19-year-old Form Four student is in custody following the death of an 18-year-old classmate. The incident, which occurred near a high school on February 3rd, 2025, resulted from a dispute. Police released a statement detailing the events.
“Police in Masvingo arrested a form four student (19) in connection with a case of murder which occurred near a High School in Masvingo on 03/02/25. The suspect stabbed another form four student (18) with an okapi knife on the stomach after an argument. The suspect had accused the victim of assaulting his young brother,” the statement reads.
The victim, tragically, was pronounced dead on arrival at a local clinic in Zimuto. The use of an okapi knife, a traditional weapon, adds a particularly grim element to this already tragic incident. The case highlights the potential for escalating conflict among young people and the devastating consequences of readily available weapons.
A separate incident in Kadoma, however, reveals a different kind of conflict, one rooted in religious beliefs. Two self-styled prophets, Madzibaba Misheck Muperiwa (22) and Madzibaba Constain Tshuma (28), stand accused of murdering their neighbour, Shepherd Mphofu (48). The incident, which occurred last Friday, January 31st, 2025, stemmed from a dispute over a religious practice.
Acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Effort Chapoto, provided details: “The two were moving around scattering ashes and charcoal which they said were holy and had powers of cleansing and protecting their shrine as well as the area of Mupamombe from evil spirits. The exercise did not go down well with the now deceased who questioned the two. A misunderstanding arose as the now deceased tried to block the two from further carrying their mission and this deteriorated into a fierce battle.”
The confrontation escalated rapidly. Muperiwa struck Mphofu in the face with a clay pot, causing him to fall. The two accused then proceeded to stone Mphofu while he lay on the ground, leaving him unconscious. A neighbour, Simbarashe Gombera, attempted to intervene but was also pelted with stones.
Gombera subsequently reported the incident to the Ingezi police base. Police arrived at the scene to find that Mphofu had already been taken to Kadoma General Hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body was taken to the hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination. This incident raises serious questions about the potential for religious extremism to lead to violence and the need for responsible religious practices.
The use of “holy ashes” as a justification for violence is particularly concerning and highlights the need for community leaders and religious authorities to address such interpretations.