SANYATI – A police officer was fatally shot at Sanyati Police Station in the early hours of Sunday morning by a man believed to be linked to the murder of Ruwa businessman Joseph Mutangadura, police have confirmed.
Constable Courage Muchechesi, 32, was shot once in the stomach inside the charge office at approximately 2AM, according to an internal police memorandum seen by ZimLive. The suspect is now in custody.
Investigators say the gunman entered the charge office while Constable Muchechesi was attending to a member of the public reporting an assault case.
The assailant, armed with a pistol, allegedly demanded to know the whereabouts of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives who had previously raided his home. He also demanded the return of US$1,000, which he claimed had been “stolen” during the raid after he fled.
The suspect ordered both Constable Muchechesi and the complainant to lie down. As Muchechesi attempted to escape into an adjoining office, the suspect fired a shot.
The bullet struck Muchechesi in the stomach. He staggered out of the building, shouting that he had been shot, before collapsing near the single quarters. Fellow officers found him lifeless and bleeding moments later, the memo stated.
It is believed the suspect had earlier exchanged gunfire with detectives from CID Homicide who had visited his home in connection with the murder of Mutangadura. During that encounter, he reportedly shot and wounded one officer before fleeing. The injured officer is currently in stable condition in hospital and is expected to survive.
In a chilling video recorded after the shooting, the suspect claimed the detectives had taken US$1,000 from his house. He said he went to the Sanyati charge office to confront them, but the CID officers were not present. He admitted to shooting Constable Muchechesi, who he said had no involvement in the case, simply for disobeying his order to lie down.
Police teams from Kadoma and Chegutu attended the scene and recovered a spent cartridge near the charge office door.
This tragic incident is connected to the earlier murder of prominent Ruwa businessman Joseph Mutangadura, 67, on 17 August 2025. Mutangadura, who owned a string of businesses in Ruwa including Mutangaz Hideout, Mutangaz Panyama and Lisheen Estate, was shot dead during an armed robbery at his farm along Dustain Road in Ruwa late on Sunday night on 17 August this year.
Armed robbers stormed his Lisheen Estate home in Ruwa, overpowered a security guard and forced entry into the bedroom where he was with his wife.
According to a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) statement, the suspects were armed with pistols, claw bars and hammers. They overpowered a security guard on duty, tied his hands with shoelaces, and forced him into the house. Using metal bars, they broke down a door before confronting the businessman, who was in bed with his wife.
“The suspects shot the victim in the stomach before ransacking the house,” national police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said. Both Mutangadura and his wife were rushed to Eden Hospital in Windsor, Ruwa, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His wife is said to be in a critical condition.
Prior to the police station shooting, two suspects had already been arrested in connection with Mutangadura’s murder. On 3 October 2025, detectives arrested Phillip Mutasa, 38, in Mkoba 6, Gweru. He allegedly confessed to his role and implicated seven accomplices.
On 13 October 2025, police arrested a second suspect, Given Mandizadza, 34, in Harare. During that operation, officers recovered firearms, ammunition and explosives from his vehicle. Commissioner Nyathi confirmed the seizure of two pistols, cartridges, fuses and explosives.
Five more suspects remain at large. Police say investigations are continuing. The investigation into both the murder of Constable Muchechesi and the murder of Joseph Mutangadura are ongoing. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in apprehending the remaining suspects.
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