Zimbabwe: Murewa boy murdered in ritual killing, body parts missing

Another muthi or muti murder in Mashonaland East province, Zimbabwe. On September 18, 2020, a 7-year old boy, Tapiwa Myamutubu, was found murdered with several body parts missing. His parents had reported him missing the day before, on September 17. 

The family of the murdered child hails from Makore Village, Murewa Town.

Warning: the following articles contain graphic details (webmaster FVDK).

SAD NEWS: Murewa boy murdered in ritual killing, body parts missing

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi 

Published: September 21, 2020
By: Harare Live

A 7-year-old boy from Makore Village under Chief Mangwende in Murewa was allegedly murdered last week in a suspected case of ritual killing.

Reports are that the boy was sent by his parents to look after the garden on the morning of September 17.

His parents went to the garden later to do some watering and found that their son was missing.

The parents enquired on the whereabouts of their son from other children who were also looking after their gardens nearby.

They were told that their son has been seen swimming in a nearby pond.

The boy’s parents went to the pond but could not find their son.

They then alerted some villagers and a search was conducted until midnight but they could not find him.

On September 18, in the morning, a day after the boy went missing, it is reported that a neighbour woke up and discovered his dog and its puppies feasting on human body parts in his yard.

He then alerted the boy’s parents and a report was made to the police.

The body had its head, neck, both legs and arms hacked off.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations into the matter are in progress.

“Police in Murewa are looking for perpetrators behind the gruesome murder of a 7-year-old boy who went missing on September 17, 2020 after he had been sent to the garden by his mother.

“The body of the boy was later discovered on September18 2020 being eaten by dogs with the head, arms and legs chopped off for suspected ritual purposes. We urge parents and guardians to always be on the look out of their minors and prioritise their safety, at all times. Investigations into this matter are in progress.”-The Herald

Source: SAD NEWS: Murewa boy murdered in ritual killing ,body parts missing

Further news:

Mrehwa Ritual Killing Of Boy Takes Strange Twist As Body Parts Fail To Match Missing Child

Published: September 23, 2020
By: iHarare – Sharon Chirisa   

The bereaved Makore family from Nyamutubu  is struggling to come to terms with the cold blooded and sinister murder of their 7-year-old son, Tapiwa, who was killed last Friday.

Tapiwa was killed in what is now believed to be a ritual murder, after he went missing last Thursday, only to be found lifeless, with several body parts hacked off.

Tapiwa’s body was found with the arms, legs and head missing, with some body parts like the skull, jaws, bones found later.

The kidnappers who are believed to be behind the murder haven’t been found yet.

The Mrehwa community was left shell shocked by the gruesome murder of the boy and the reason why it was done.

Chief Mangwende whose jurisdiction the area falls under, expressed his shock speaking with to ZBC saying

“I am shocked by such gruesome murder I have never seen such brutality,”

Chief Mangwende revealed that the skull found on the scene, thought to be belonging to Tapiwa turned out not to be his.

However, the burden is heavy to bear for the family who have been left in more pain after it was announced that the skull which was discovered does not match the body, hence the need for DNA tests.

The Makore family appealed for assistance in order to go for DNA tests.

“As a family we are appealing for assistance to go for DNA tests to establish if all the body parts belong to our child,”

For now, the burial plans have been stalled as they have to corroborate all the body parts via DNA testing.

For now, the burial plans have been stalled as they have to corroborate all the body parts via DNA testing.

Source: Mrehwa Ritual Killing Of Boy Takes Strange Twist As Body Parts Fail To Match Missing Child

Related news:

Horror As Missing Boy Is Found Dead With Dogs Feasting On His Body Parts

Published: September 21, 2020
By: iHarare – Chris T. Matambanadzo 

In a scene that sounds like a script out of a horror movie, a 7-year-old boy who went missing was found the next day murdered with dogs feasting on his body parts.

Reports indicate that the boy was found with missing body parts and police are suspecting the boy was murdered and his parts harvested for ritual purposes.

On the morning of September 16, the boy from Makore Village under Chief Mangwende in Murewa was sent by his parents to look after the garden.

The boy’s parents could not locate him when they went to the garden later to do some watering.

This sent them into a panic resulting in them enquiring about the whereabouts of their son from other children who were also manning their gardens nearby.

The parents were told that their son was swimming in a nearby pond but were disappointed when they made their way there only to find their young boy was not at the said pond.

The parents then sought help from other villagers and a search was conducted until midnight without fruition.

The next morning, it is reported that a neighbor woke up and discovered his dogs and its puppies feasting on human body parts in his yard.

The neighbor then alerted the boy’s parents who made a report to the police.

The body had its head, neck, both legs and arms hacked off.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the sad incident adding that investigations into the matter are in progress.

Nyathi said:

Police in Murewa are looking for perpetrators behind the gruesome murder of a 7-year-old boy who went missing on September 17, 2020 after he had been sent to the garden by his mother. The body of the boy was later discovered on September18 2020 being eaten by dogs with the head, arms and legs chopped off for suspected ritual purposes. We urge parents and guardians to always be on the look out of their minors and prioritise their safety, at all times. Investigations into this matter are in progress.

Source: Horror As Missing Boy Is Found Dead With Dogs Feasting On His Body Parts

Mrewa gruesome murder: Makore family still in shock

Published: September 22, 2020
By: ZBC Reporter

THE Makore family from Nyamutubu area under Chief Mangwende in Mrewa is yet to come to terms with the gruesome murder of their 7-year-old son Tapiwa who was killed last Friday.

The gruesome murder of the young boy who was beheaded after he went missing last Thursday has left this community in Mrewa shell shocked.

The body was found with legs, arms and head missing.

Some body parts which include bum flesh, skull, jaws and bones were later discovered in the area.

When ZBC News visited the area, scores of people were at the Makore homestead to pay their condolences.

Those who spoke to the ZBC News crew including the traditional leader for the area, Chief Mangwende said this was unheard of the area.

“I am shocked by such gruesome murder I have never seen such brutality,” said Chief Mangwende.
“I woke up only to find my dogs eating flesh and had to call fellow villagers for help,” said Nambuwa one of the villagers.

However, the burden is heavy to bear for the family who have been left in more pain after it was announced that the skull which was discovered does not match the body, hence the need for DNA tests.

“As a family we are appealing for assistance to go for DNA tests to establish if all the body parts belong to our child,” said representative of Makore family.

It is another sad turn of events after the grave which was being prepared for burial had to be abandoned due to the latest developments.

Source: Mrewa gruesome murder: Makore family still in shock

More articles:

Numerous articles report the ritual murder of the 7-year old Tapiwa, in Zimbabwean newspapers as well as on YouTube and on Facebook. Follows a selection.

The reader is warned that these links may expire after some time (webmaster FVDK). 

OMG: Body of a boy found being eaten by dogs with head, arms and legs chopped off
Published: September 19, 2020
By: My Zimbabwe – Muza Mpofu

Murewa boy murdered in ritual killing
Published: September 21, 2020
By: NewsdzeZimbabwe

POLICE investigate murder of 7-year-old Murewa boy
Published: September 21, 2020
By: Star FM – Zimbabwe

South Africa: muthi suspected for murder of two Orange Farm kids

Allegedly, another case of muti murder in South Africa. Muti or muthi murder is the killing of a person with the intention to use body parts for ritual purposes to enhance one’s power, prestige or wealth. Muti murders occur frequently in Southern Africa, in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho and eSwatini (formerly called Swaziland).

All ritualistic killings, including muti murders, are based on superstition. Its occurrence is widespread but nobody knows the exact number of victims of these gruesome and heinous crimes. As can be seen from the picture below, it is not an imaginary phenomenon which exists only in the minds of the people. The mere suspicion of a ritualistic killing draws large crowds, expressing their indignation, their fears and their protests against these medieval practices which cannot be left unpunished (webmaster FVDK).

Muthi suspected for murder of two Orange Farm kids

Residents of Orange farm, south of Johannesburg marching after the discovery of bodies of six-year-old Simphiwe Mncina and eight-year-old Mpho Makondo in Extension 4. 
Image: Veli Nhlapo

Published: September 21, 2020
By: Sowetan Live – Tankiso Makhetha  

The discovery of bodies of two children in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, comes just five months after another child was killed in the same area under mysterious circumstances.

The community and families believe they may have been victims of muthi killings.

Mpho Makondo, 8, and Simphiwe Mncina, 6, were found dead on Saturday morning after they went missing on Friday night.

They were smudged with a black substance on their mouths and underneath their feet while a note, which their families did not see before it was taken by police as evidence, was left on Makondo’s body. No body parts were missing.

In April, Mzwandile Zitho was found dead in what his family believed was a ritual killing at a tavern about 2km from where community members discovered Mpho and Simphiwe’s bodies.

Mpho and Simphiwe, who lived three houses from each other, were last seen walking home from a salon about 400 metres from their homes. 

The two children had accompanied Mpho’s aunt, Malehlohonolo Malatji, to the salon. 

Mpho’s father, Moeketsi Malatji yesterday told Sowetan how horrified he was after finding his daughter lying naked, behind a boulder. 

He described the children as best friends who were always together. 

“The last person who saw them was my sister. They had gone to the salon down the road with her, but she told them to go home when it was getting dark at about 6pm,” Malatji said.

 “We started a search party with the community, and went into every household in our neighbourhood and we didn’t find them. We stopped looking for them at about 4am on Saturday.”

Malatji said he received a call from his daughter’s mother at about 6am telling him that they had found the children.

“I could not hold back my tears when I saw my baby’s body lying next to a big rock. She was naked, her arm was broken, she had a grimace on her face, and there was a black substance in her mouth and under (the) feet,” he said.

Their bodies were found a few hundred metres away from each other. 

Simphiwe’s body was dumped in someone’s yard and the note was left on his torso. He was not wearing any top and did not have shoes on.

His aunt, Lindiwe Mojafe, said: “They were innocent children. Why would anyone do this to them? They were never in the habit of playing too far from home. It’s very strange and scary how we found them. It has left us with more questions than answers.” 

A community member who found Simphiwe’s body told Sowetan that he thought it was a muthi killing. 

“I was going to work and I saw a body of a small boy in my yard. I was scared because I thought that people would think that I killed him and left him there. I called the police and other community members to come and see because I didn’t want to be arrested,” the community member said.

Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said the motive for the double murder was yet to be established, while a postmortem will be conducted. 

“The investigation into this double murder will be prioritised and escalated to the Provincial Investigating Unit, in line with the SAPS position to prioritise the investigation of crimes committed against women, children and other vulnerable persons,” Peters said. 

Meanwhile, in the Mzwandile Zitho, 5, case earlier in the year, Pontso Mohlanka was arrested and charged for the boy’s murder but charges against her were withdrawn on August 28. 

Mzwandile’s grandmother, Nompumelelo Zitho, yesterday said she did not visit the scene where the killed children were found at the weekend because it gave her flashbacks of what happened to her grandson. 

“I am still trying to come to terms with it. It’s worse now because we won’t find closure. The investigating officer told me that charges were withdrawn because there wasn’t enough evidence,” Zitho said.

Source: Muthi suspected for murder of two Orange Farm kids

Lagos State – Nigeria: Police arrest man for allegedly killing poly student for ritual

Allegedly, another ritual murder case in Nigeria. Although much is still unclear, the dead body of a young woman, the involvement of a herbalist and the confession of her boyfriend who claims he was paid Naira 2 million to carry out the act are sufficient reasons to publish this case on this site. 

The number of ritual murder cases in Nigeria, common known as ‘money rituals’, cannot be counted. There are also a great number of unclear cases, where ritualistic acts are suspected to have taken place, cases – for the time being – based only on suspicion and rumors but where firm proof lacks. As I’ve stated many times before, Nigeria is, as far as population is concerned, the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 200 million people so it’s partly explainable why the largest number of ritual murders in SSA occur in this West African country. Be that as it may, every ritual murder os one too much. Often, prosecution iOS a matter of priorities. Also in Nigeria (webmaster FVDK).

Police arrest man for allegedly killing poly student for ritual

The late Toluwalase Kembi

Published: September 20, 2020
By: Punch Nigeria, Olaleye Aluko

It’s sunset at dawn for 20-year-old Toluwalase Kembi, a polytechnic student awaiting industrial training.

A visit to her friend in the Ikorodu area sadly led to her death allegedly by boyfriend who claimed he was paid N2m to carry out the act.

The 33-year-old suspect, Owolabi Yusuf, also known as alfa, is now cooling his heels in the custody of the Elere Police Division in the Agege area, where the matter was reported to.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim, who lived with her parents on Orile Road, TabonTabon, Agege, had gone to sleep over in Yusuf’s place in the Ladeja area of Ikorodu, on July 28, when she was allegedly clubbed to death and her body reportedly cut into pieces for ritual purposes.

The family told our correspondent that the police had yet to recover the corpse.

The police at Elere division were able to arrest Yusuf in the third week of August 2020 upon fleeing to Ilorin, Kwara State, after allegedly carrying out the act.

The suspect reportedly confessed to the police that he allegedly connived with three other fleeing persons, including a herbalist named Owonikoko, to kill the 20-year-old student with a pestle during her visit.

The family told our correspondent that Kembi, who just completed National Diploma, should have proceeded for IT but for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When she did not return home, we thought she went missing; we didn’t know she had been murdered and her body cut into pieces,” the father, Oluwatoyin Kembi, a government retiree, lamented during an interview.

Meanwhile, Toluwalase’s elder sister, Abimbola, urged the police to ensure that justice was served in the matter.

She noted that the family had yet to see Toluwalase’s corpse while the fleeing suspects including the herbalist named Owonikoko, had yet to be apprehended.

Abimbola said, “On July 28, I, she and my mummy were at home discussing. Minutes later, her phone rang and she picked the call outside. The next thing, she came back, took her bag and said she was going to see her friend in Ikorodu. In the evening, her fiancé named Segun called us and said Tolu called him that she was going to cook for someone in Ikorodu area, and that she said she was going to sleep over in Ikorodu.

“The following morning, he called us again that he called her and she didn’t pick. We also tried her mobile but nobody picked it up. Since then, we had been in this trouble. By the afternoon of that day, her phone was already switched off.

“All those times, she had already been killed by the friend she went to visit. We didn’t know. The police at the Elere division tracked her phone to Ikorodu and arrested the man in possession of the phone. The man then named Yusuf, also known as Alfa,  as the seller. That was how the truth came out.”

Another relative, Michael Akintunde, claimed that the suspect told the police that he “cut Toluwalase’s body into three parts.”

The deceased’s father who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, said since three weeks that the police had assured of recovering her corpse, the family had yet to hear any update.

“Yusuf told the police that it is the herbalist who knows where the body is. But it is over three weeks now and we are afraid that the matter could die down. The case is still at the division. We were expecting that it would have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for more investigation,” the father added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, adding that efforts were being intensified to arrest three other fleeing suspects.

He said, “Yes, we have a murder case at hand. Preliminary investigation revealed that one Owolabi Yusuf put a call to the deceased and we have been able to establish the involvement of Yusuf who is with us presently.’

“We have three fleeing suspects. The police will do the needful to apprehend all those at large; proper investigation will be done and justice will be served.”

Source: Police arrest man for allegedly killing poly student for ritual

Man carrying a child’s severed head arrested outside Ugandan parliament

A bizar incident occurred recently in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Allegedly, a man, carrying the severed head of a five to eight-years-old child, hidden in a gift box, tried to enter the building which houses the nation’s parliament. Not surprisingly, rumors started floating suggesting a case of ritual murder. True or not true? And was maybe a parliamentarian involved? If yes, who? The mere fact of the rumors is an indication, in my opinion, of the phenomenon of ritualistic murders in Uganda – besides, previous posts on this site confirm the occurrence of ritual murders in the East African country. The rumors also show the people’s suspicion and mistrust of rich and famous people in cases of ritualistic activities. Moreover, it is interesting to note and very significant that the incident occurred when Ugandan parliamentarians are discussing a law which intends to punish the crime of human sacrifice with the death penalty!  

I hope that the police will do its work independently and will reveal the truth. If again a ritual murder has been committed, the perpetrators must be arrested and tried. If not, let it be established. Of course, it is crystal clear that a crime has been committed and that a child was the victim. The rule of law must apply, as I have repeatedly underlined in this place. Without the rue of law there is no justice, no progress, no development (webmaster FVDK).

Man carrying a child’s severed head arrested outside Ugandan parliament

Published: September 15, 2020
By: Metro, Uganda – Joe Roberts

A man has been arrested after attempting to enter the Ugandan parliamentary building carrying the severed head of a child in a gift box. The child was aged about five to eight-years-old, but no more details were given by police.

It comes as politicians in the east African country consider a bill that would punish the crime of human sacrifice with the death penalty. Ugandans on social media expressed outrage over the incident, with some pointing out that it had the hallmarks of a ritual killing.

Children are frequently targeted in such killings across Uganda, according to police and some watchdog groups. Officers said they can ‘assure the general public that the investigations are vigorously being undertaken to ensure that the perpetrators are taken to court’.

The gruesome package was apparently intended to be delivered to the office of the parliamentary speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. A spokesman for Ms Kadaga, a member of the governing National Resistance Movement party, who has held the speaker’s post for two terms, declined to comment.

Source: Man carrying a child’s severed head arrested outside Ugandan parliament

Related article:

Ugandan police nab man entering parliament with severed head

Published: September 14, 2020
By: Sports grind Entertainment

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan police on Monday arrested a man attempting to enter the parliamentary building in the capital carrying the severed head of a child in a wrapped gift box.

Police said in a statement that the victim was a child of about five to eight years, giving no more details.

Police “assure the general public that the investigations are vigorously being undertaken to ensure that the perpetrators are taken to court,” said the statement.

Parliamentary Watch Uganda, a local group that monitors the activities of the legislature, said the gruesome package was intended to be delivered to the office of the parliamentary speaker, Rebecca Kadaga.

A spokesman for Kadaga, a member of the governing National Resistance Movement party who has held the speaker’s post for two terms, declined to comment.

Lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would punish the crime of human sacrifice with the death penalty. Supporters of the bill say such legislation is long overdue.

Ugandans on social media expressed outrage over the incident, with some pointing out that it had the hallmarks of a ritual killing. Children are frequently targeted in such killings across the East African country, according to the police and some watchdog groups.

Source: Ugandan police nab man entering parliament with severed head

Ruth Zulu, Zambia: ‘Make laws to protect people with albinism’

People with albinism (PWA) in several countries in Southern Africa live in fear, notably in Zambia and Malawi, as the article presented below underlines. This is outrageous. People with albinism have basic human rights, just like everyone in their society. Governments should protect their citizens from these heinous attacks which are based on superstition. Murderers should not get away with their crimes. Laws are important to protect people, but law enforcement is equally important! (webmaster FVDK).    

‘Make laws to protect people with albinism’

Published: September 12, 2020
By: The Southern Times, The Newspaper for Southern Africa – Jeff Kapembwa

Lusaka – People with albinism (PWA) in Zambia have demanded strong legislation to protect them from misguided individuals who think culling their body parts can help them make magic potions.

The ritual killing of PWAs continues and stigmatisation of the pigment-related condition remains a challenge in many societies.

National Albinism Initiative Network of Zambia deputy executive director Ruth Zulu this week lamented the continued stigmatisation and murder of PWAs, saying the government needed a legal framework to specifically target these issues.

Such a framework, Zulu said, would also help mainstream albinism issues in national development.

In an interview with The Southern Times at a Zambia Albinism Awareness Programme workshop in Lusaka on Thursday, Zulu – an Environmental Engineering student at Copperbelt University – cited various incidences in which PWAs had been ritually killed or otherwise exploited.

“It is the obligation of our government under the leadership of President (Edgar)!Lungu to take up such a responsibility, answerably and enforceability. “Discrimination, marginalisation and social exclusion of PWAs have been reported as a global phenomenon and that is why we need apolicy to recognise these.

“The cycle of attacks, discrimination and poverty must be broken. There is value in having domestic laws and other measures which are unambiguous and effective protection of PWAs,” she said.

Albinism is a genetic condition that affects one in 20,000 people globally.

It is rare in people with lighter pigmentation and more common in Africa.

A Malawi court last year sentenced three people to death for killing a person with albinism.

The three chopped of the limbs of a person living with albinism with the intention of trafficking the body parts for ritual purposes.

Source: ‘Make laws to protect people with albinism