CHIREDZI – A profound sense of grief and outrage has gripped the community of Chiredzi following the horrific death of six-year-old Steadfast Makondo, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) pupil at Chiredzi Government Primary. Post-mortem results have confirmed that the young girl was raped and murdered before her body was abandoned in a bush, an incident that has ignited urgent calls for enhanced child safety measures, particularly within school transport services.
Steadfast, a bright-eyed pupil, vanished on 27 January 2026. Her disappearance triggered a frantic search that tragically ended with the discovery of her lifeless body. The initial Masvingo Mirror report detailed the grim findings, stating, “postmortem results have indicated that Steadfast Makondo (6), an ECD pupil at Chiredzi Government Primary who went missing from school and was later found dead in a bush, was raped before being killed”.
The focus of the police investigation has swiftly turned to Ward 19 Chiredzi Rural District councillor, Lovemore Muchono, who was responsible for transporting Steadfast to and from school. Muchono is currently at large, having reportedly fled after leaving a disturbing confession. According to the Masvingo Mirror, Muchono’s note claimed he “mistakenly left the child in his car when he dropped others at school and only realised his mistake at lunch hour when the child was already dead”. This account, however, stands in stark contrast to the post-mortem findings of rape and murder.
National Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the severity of the case in an interview with Masvingo Mirror, stating, “Yes, I can confirm that the child was abused and murdered. She had marks and multiple bruises on her body, so we are treating this as a murder case”. Muchono was reportedly the last person to see Steadfast alive, reporting her absence to her teacher later that day and even participating in the initial search efforts. He attended her funeral on 2 February before his sudden disappearance, leaving behind the contentious confession letter in his car.
The New Ziana news outlet provided further details on Muchono’s confession, noting that he “unintentionally left Steadfast inside his vehicle with the windows closed after a school drop-off. As he went about his day, the child, tragically forgotten, suffocated due to the heat”. The report further alleged that Muchono, in an attempt to conceal the incident, “reportedly transported the body to a secluded area known as Chitsanga Hill”. This narrative from Muchono’s confession, suggesting accidental suffocation, directly conflicts with the police’s confirmation of abuse and murder.
This latest tragedy has reopened old wounds within the Chiredzi community, evoking painful memories of a similar incident in late 2021. In that heartbreaking case, three-year-old Celine Phiri and four-year-old Lynet Mukungati lost their lives due to negligence within a school transport setting. The two young girls died after a pre-school owner reportedly forgot them in the boot of her vehicle, leading to suffocation. This earlier incident had already underscored the critical need for stringent safety measures in child transportation, a need that remains tragically unaddressed.
Parents in Chiredzi are now vociferously demanding immediate reforms in child safety protocols for school transportation. A local parent, expressing profound despair to New Ziana, lamented, “How can this happen again? We believed that the past had taught us valuable lessons. This feels like a nightmare we can’t escape”. Concerned mothers are calling for stricter regulations, including mandatory headcounts, timely communication alerts when children are unaccounted for, and comprehensive background checks for all transporters. As one concerned mother, identified as Mai 2, asserted, “This issue cannot be ignored. We need assurances that our children are safe and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions”.
The wider context of child vulnerability in Zimbabwe has also been highlighted by recent high-profile cases. The ongoing investigation into the alleged Guruve serial killer, Anymore Zvitsva, who faces numerous murder and rape charges, serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threats children can face. In January 2026, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) issued renewed calls for heightened learner safety as schools reopened, urging parents, guardians, school authorities, and transport providers to prioritise student safety. Commissioner Nyathi specifically appealed to transport operators to ensure their vehicles are certified as roadworthy and that lawful and safe services are provided.
The sorrow and fear enveloping the Chiredzi community, and indeed the nation, serve as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility every adult bears in protecting the most vulnerable. Community leaders are advocating for unity to ensure that child safety becomes the highest priority, stating, “This latest tragedy urges us to confront the systemic failures that have allowed these incidents to occur. We must unite to ensure that the safety of our children is the highest priority”. The repeated incidents underscore a critical need for systemic changes and rigorous enforcement of safety regulations to prevent such preventable tragedies from recurring.
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