Fresh details have emerged about the death of Roman Catholic priest Father Regis Chikuni, who was found in the mortuary at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals days after he was reported missing.
Father Chikuni is believed to have been struck by a Honda Fit while attempting to cross the road near the intersection of Prince Edward Road and Samora Machel Avenue in Harare. The vehicle allegedly left the scene after the incident, leaving the injured or deceased pedestrian unidentified before his body was taken to the hospital mortuary.
Police sources say Father Chikuni had no identification particulars on him when the accident happened. That detail has raised questions about how the body remained unidentified while the priest’s colleagues, friends and members of the Catholic community were searching for him.
The circumstances surrounding the crash, including the time it happened, the identity of the driver and what happened immediately after the collision, remained unclear as police began their investigations. Police were expected to issue a statement on the case.
The death has left the Archdiocese of Harare mourning a priest whose disappearance had already caused concern among clergy and parishioners. The church first informed the clergy and laity during Sunday Mass that Father Chikuni was unaccounted for. A report was later made to the police as efforts to locate him continued.
His whereabouts were eventually established at the same hospital where his body had been taken after the reported road accident. The discovery brought an end to the search but immediately raised fresh questions over the events between his disappearance and his identification at the mortuary.
In a death notice issued through the Archbishop’s Secretary, Father Ephraim Murwira, the Archdiocese confirmed that Father Chikuni had been found deceased at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we announce the passing on of our beloved brother, Father Regis Chikuni. Tragically, he was found deceased at the mortuary of Parirenyatwa Hospital. In this time of sorrow, we are reminded of the promise of the resurrection. We take comfort in our faith that Father Chikuni has returned to the loving embrace of our Lord.
“His dedication to his pastoral duties and the impact he had on our community will forever be cherished in our hearts. We understand that the news of his passing is a profound loss for us all, and we urge everyone to come together in prayer as we reflect on the memories and blessings that Father Chikuni brought into our lives. Details regarding the funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may we find solace in the hope of the resurrection. Thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time,” he said.
The statement did not provide details of the accident or explain how the body came to be registered at the mortuary without being identified as Father Chikuni. It also did not state when the priest was last seen, who first recognised him or what led church officials or relatives to search the hospital mortuary.
Those questions have become central to the case. Father Chikuni was a well known person within the Catholic community. He was a senior priest in the Archdiocese of Harare, and his absence was serious enough for the church to alert its members and report the matter to police. Yet, after the reported collision, he was handled as an unidentified victim at a major hospital facility.
The reported absence of a national identity document may have delayed the process. However, it remains unclear whether the priest was carrying any other item that could have linked him to the church, such as a mobile telephone, keys, clothing associated with his duties, personal papers or material bearing the church’s name. It is also not known whether the vehicle involved was traced through witnesses, damage to its bodywork, traffic cameras or information supplied by members of the public.
The intersection where the incident is reported to have happened is in a busy part of Harare, where vehicles and pedestrians use the roads throughout the day. Investigators are expected to establish whether anyone saw the collision,and whether other motorists or pedestrians witnessed what happened.
The priest’s case has therefore developed along two connected tracks. Police must establish what happened on Prince Edward Road and identify the driver of the Honda Fit. At the same time, investigators and hospital officials must clarify how Father Chikuni was recorded, handled and eventually recognised at Parirenyatwa.
The Archdiocese has not announced funeral arrangements. It said the details would be communicated in due course and urged the Catholic community to pray while it mourned the priest.
For the church, Father Chikuni’s death has brought grief after several days of uncertainty. For his family and colleagues, the search for a missing priest ended with the discovery that he had died alone after a reported collision in the capital. For investigators, the task now is to reconstruct the final moments of his life, trace the vehicle involved and account for the steps that led from the road to the hospital mortuary.
Police investigations are continuing.