Mushumbi | Ritual Killing In Africa

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)

Before starting to read the first article presented below, readers should prepare themselves that they’re going to read a weird story. The author recounts a number of murder cases including ritual murders (often committed in a far past, the oldest murder cited was committed nearly 60 years ago) with a dead victim fighting from the grave – hence the article’s title. You will better understand what this means once reading the article’s details.

However, in the first two paragraphs the author mentions the overall number of murder cases (reported, committed, solved, murder trials) committed in Zimbabwe in 2021, 2022 and 2023, specified by province.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency at least 40 percent of the 3600 murder cases documented in 2022 were alleged ritual killings.(italics added by the webmaster FVDK).

If true (there is no reason to disbelieve the Statistics Agency but nevertheless I wonder whether there’s a typo here and I will verify the numbers reported) this means nearly 1500 ritual murder cases in 2022 alone!

A quick calculation points out that this means a monthly average of 120 ritually murdered victims, i.e. 4 ritual murders a day. This is very high given the overall population of Zimbabwe, about 16 million people, and it contrasts sharply with another statement of the author.

The author continues: “So widespread are incidents of ritual killing that in recent times barely a fortnight passes without the Zimbabwean media reporting on the heinous act in its various ghastly shades.” (bold letter added by the webmaster FVDK).

Nevertheless it seems safe and justified to conclude that the incidence of rituals murders is high in Zimbabwe even though the reported numbers need a thorough verification.

Be that as it may, a prudent estimate results in a about 300 ‘muti’ murders on a yearly basis, hence one every day – which is still a shocking number.

Concluding, the first article throws a particular light on the phenomenon of the belief in the supernatural in this Southern Africa country. In previous posts I’ve already included some of the ritualistic murder cases mentioned in the article. Some other murder cases are new. A very recent one is the suspected ritual murder of a three-year old girl in Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province. Caroline Makubhwakwa’s mutilated body, with some of the body parts missing, was discovered on January 25 after she got missing on January 17 (see the second article below).

Warning: the articles below contains graphic details which may upset some readers.
(webmaster FVDK)