The police in Gokwe have arrested Thomas Muzenda, a 38-year-old artisanal miner from Village 17 Mupukuta, Chireya Gokwe North for murdering his one-year-old daughter for ritual purposes. Muzenda was arrested on August 2, 2023.
A police report seen by Pindula News says Muzenda was taken into custody in connection with the callous murder of his 1-year-old daughter, Nenyasha Muzenda, who had been reported missing.
Muzenda confessed to the crime revealing to the police that he had killed his daughter with a knife for ritual purposes. Allegedly seeking to enhance his mining activities, Muzenda an artisanal miner had consulted a traditional healer known only as Dhumba. The police were able to recover the remains of the victim from a disused well located at Zenda Mining area in Gokwe North. Reads the police report:
On 02/08/23, Police in Gokwe arrested an artisanal miner, Thomas Muzenda (38) of Village 17 Mupukuta, Chireya Gokwe North, in connection with the callous murder of his daughter, Nenyasha Muzenda (1 year 2 months), who had been reported missing. The suspect confessed to the police that he killed his daughter with a knife for ritual purposes to allegedly boost his mining activities after approaching a traditional healer only identified as Dhumba. Police have since recovered the remains of the victim from a disused well at Zenda Mining area, Gokwe North.
Ritual killings in Zimbabwe are a serious concern, involving intentional murders for the purpose of using body parts in rituals. These acts, driven by beliefs and superstitions, target men, women, and children. Despite concerted efforts by various stakeholders including the government, law enforcement agents, civil society and human rights organizations, these crimes persist.
Source Pindula news
