Category Archives: Masvingo Province

Ritual murders in Zimbabwe – when will it stop?

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Ritual murder – locally known as ‘muti murder’ – is not uncommon in Zimbabwe although it remains an exceptional crime that we must reject, combat and punish. The last time I posted on murder for ritualistic purposes in this Southern African country was on July 6 this year.

I take here a brief, superficial look at a number of reported and suspected or cases of ritual murder in Zimbabwe which have been reported in the current year, 2025, and in 2024 – with the important disclaimer that I do not claim to present an exhaustive list of reported muti murder cases, and underlining that many ritual murders go unnoticed.

In this post I do not include the original article(s), which is my usual procedure (for fear of losing the source in cyberspace). This time I take the risk… I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause to the reader.

Before presenting you aforementioned list, I wish to share with you a succinct but very correct description of ‘ritual murder; thanking Lovemore Muzira of Pendula News, Zimbabwe for the quote:

‘Ritual killings are premeditated murders carried out on the belief that human body parts hold supernatural powers.’ Unquote.

Journalist Lovemore Muzira is a regular contributor to Pindula News with a background in Political Science and International Relations and has written most of the articles referred to below. He is to be commended for drawing our attention to this plague – murdering for ritualistic purposes, which are a serous human rights violation and cause fear and sadness.

The reader is reminded of the Makore ritual murder case: 7-year old Tapiwa Makore was murdered by his uncle and an accomplice for ritualistic purposes. His cruel death in 2020 shocked the nation and the high-profile muti murder of the young boy was leading headlines in newspapers for many years, 2020-2025. I also covered the tragic murder case and following trial on this site.
Unfortunately, ritual murderers learn little from the punishment imposed on the murderers: ultimately they were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Warning: some of the following articles contain graphic details which may disturb the reader.

On a recent suspected case of ritual murder, in Norton, Zimbabwe, Lovemore Muzira reported:

Body Of 40-Year-Old Found With Missing Body Parts In Norton
Published: August, 26 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Norton Gripped By Fear After Two Grisly Murders
Published: August 28, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

29-Year-Old Man Arrested Over Norton “Ritual” Murder
Published: August 28, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Norton Man Accused Of Murder And Body Mutilation Granted US$100 Bail
Published: September 10, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Norton is located about 40 km west of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, in the province of Mashonaland West.

Provices of Zimbabwe – Source: Wikipedia

Unfortunately, there are many more cases:

Zimbabwe: Brother Beheads Sister for Rituals, Goes Blind On Eve of Trial
Published: September 10, 2025
By: Mary Taruvinga – New Zimbabwe
Refers to a 2017 ‘muti murder’ case

Shurugwi Grandmother Kills, Eats Child’s Flesh For Ritual
Published: August 29, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Self-Styled Prophet Arrested For Ritual Murder Of 12-Year-Old Boy
Published: July 9, 2025
By: Marlven Chinembiri – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Assailant Cuts Off 8-Week-Old Baby’s Nose And Cheek In Filabusi
Published: May 27, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Body Dumped In Bindura With Head, Both Hands And Feet Missing
Published: May 1, 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Decomposing Body Of Missing Chitungwiza Teacher Found In Gutu
Published: October 8, 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe
Parts of the decomposing body of Stella Mushangidze Chidzenga,
a Chitungwiza teacher were recently found in Gutu, Masvingo Province.

Body Found In Mazowe Dam With Missing Parts
Published: July 5, 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Man Jailed 4 Years For Attempted Ritual Murder Of Boy (7)
Published: March 11, 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Headlands Businessman Allegedly Hires Hitman To Kill Grade One Learner For Rituals
Published: March 8 2025
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Burnt Body Of Baby Boy Found Hanging On A Tree – body parts missing  
Published: Febr 3 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

“Ritual Murder” Victim (3) Body Found In Mavuradonha Mountain
Published: February 1, 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe

Zhombe Teacher Killed, Face Skinned, Eyes And Ears Cut Off
Published: January 21, 2024
By: Lovemore Muzira – Pendula News, Zimbabwe 

It’s a sad list.
(webmaster FVDK)

Zimbabwe: Masvingo student kidnaps neighbour’s 10-year-old son to sell his head for rituals

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Masvingo is the capital of Masvingo Province and located in southeastern Zimbabwe. A gruesome crime was averted, it could have cost an innocent 10-year-old boy his life.

Happily the boy escaped unharmed but the warning is clear: be vigilant. Moreover, there is an obvious need to educate people, especially young people, not to be believe in money rituals. It is sad that four years after the Tapiwa Makore case which shocked the entire nation still people believe that one can get rich quick by performing ritualistic acts including murder.
(FVDK).

Screenshot from post on X (formerly Twitter) by @MasvingoMedia

Masvingo student kidnaps neighbour’s 10-year-old son to sell his head for rituals

Screenshot from post on X (formerly Twitter) by @MasvingoMedia

Published: October 19, 2024
By: Chris Matambanadzo – iHarare, Zimbabwe

In a disturbing event that underscores the need for parents to be cautious about whom they trust with their children, an 18-year-old student from Masvingo disappeared with his 10-year-old neighbour for three days.

The 18-year-old who is a Form 4 student at Vision Academy in Masvingo confessed that he had kidnapped his neighbour’s 10-year-old son to take him to Chipinge. He alleges that he had clients in Chipinge who were eagerly waiting to use the 10-year-old boy, only identified as Tawana for money rituals.

The 18-year-old, identified as Peter, admitted during a police interrogation that he had planned to take the boy, named Tawana, to clients in Chipinge who had requested the child’s head for a ritual.

“Pandakatora mwana uyu vanga vanditi tsvaga musoro uuye nawo,” Peter says before Tawana’s grandmother wails uncontrollably in the background.

A Mother’s Despair and Warnings Ignored

Tawana’s mother, who is recording the video, angrily asks Peter if he really took her son intending to have him sacrificed for money rituals.

“Saka waida kuenda kunochekeresa mwana wangu here iwe? Nhaiwe Peter iwe? Waida kunochekeresa mwana? Ndozvawaida kunoita nhaiwe Peter? Waida kunochekeresa Tawana? hausvodi nhaiwe? Akakutadzirei? Takakutadzirei isu? Hezvo! Zvaunoshura!,” Tawana’s mother asks in shock and disbelief.

Tawana’s mother also reprimanded her son for ignoring previous warnings about befriending someone Peter’s age.

“Tawana hanty ukunzwa shamwari yako iyi? Yawaigara uchipiwa warning kuti usatamba ne dhara iro. Chiona zvaraida kuita dhara rako raida kunokuurayisa iri,” she adds before the video abruptly ends.

Watch: Masvingo Teen Confesses to Sinister Plot

Attempts to reach Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa for comment were unsuccessful at the time of writing. You can watch the Form 4 student from Masvingo confessing to kidnapping his neighbour’s son for ritual purposes below:

An 18 year old form 4 student at Vision Academy in Msv confessing that he disapeared with a 10 yr old neighbour for 3 days intending to go with him to Chipinge were his clients were waiting for the minor’ head for ritual purposes. pic.twitter.com/avQpNbchjx

— Media Centre Masvingo (@MasvingoMedia) October 19, 2024

Source: Form 4 Masvingo Student Kidnaps Neighbour’s 10-Year-Old Son to Sell His Head for Rituals