Category Archives: toddler

Zimbabwe: staggering numbers of ritual murders

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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)

Provinces of Zimbabwe (Source: Wikipedia)

When the dead fight from the grave

Published: February 3, 2024
By: Elliot Ziwira Senior Writer – The Herald, Zimbabwe

Source: When the dead fight from the grave

Read also:

Police probe ritual murder of a 3-year old girl

Published: February 2, 2024
By: Crime Reporter – The Herald, Zimbabwe

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi

Source: Police probe ritual murder of a 3-year old girl

Kenya: A cry for justice: Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

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The four-year old toddler whose body had been found in the Thuci river ten days ago has been laid to rest. The bereaved parents can only hope that there is justice, but they depend on action of the authorities. It is not the first murder case in the area. Three months ago a little girl was also found dead in a nearby water. What happens in Kenya these days?
(webmaster FVDK)

A cry for justice: murdered boy buried in Embu County;
Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

Published: January 23, 2021
By: KTN news, from The Standard – video

A somber mood engulfed the burial ceremony of Brayden Mutwiri, a four year old boy whose body was found decomposing at river Thuci last week in Embu County. The boy whose death is suspected to have been linked to a ritual killing was today laid to rest in Kanyuambora, Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu County.

Screenshot. To watch the video, click here

Source: Source: A cry for justice: Murdered boy buried in embu; Brayden Mutwiri murder linked to ritual killing

Embu County, Kenya

Mob justice in Kenya: angry residents burn down houses belonging to wealthy suspect

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It’s not the first time that Kenyans take the law into their own hands – and it won’t be the last time either. Of course, this is wrong. The rue of the law must apply. People who are suspected of committing a crime should be apprehended, put on trial, and an impartial judge should find them guilty or not-guilty. However, the anger of local residents sometimes unlashes forces which result in mob justice. It happened in Kavengero village, in Embu County, after the mutilated, dead body of a four-year old toddler had been found in a nearby river.

An autopsy must confirm whether this was a case of ritual murder. Meanwhile the local population has no doubts. Their anger was fed by the fact that three months ago, a little girl was also found dead and floating in the water. 

The obligation of the state is to protect its citizens and to arrest, try and sentence people who break the law (webmaster FVDK).

Residents of Kavengero village in Embu County at the scene near Thuci River
where the body of a four-year-old-boy was found on January 13, 2021.
Photo: George Munene

Angry Residents Burn Down 4 Houses Belonging to Trader

Published: January 14, 2021
By: Kenyans.co.ke – Michael Musyoka 

Angry residents on Wednesday, January 13, descended on the homestead of a trader in Embu burning down four houses, whom they believed was behind the kidnapping and eventual murder of boy in the area.

Confirming the incident, Mbeere North Sub-County Police Commander Kilonzo Kivinda stated that the residents went on a rampage after police discovered the body of a four-year-old boy dumped in the Thuci river.

“The mob became violent and destroyed property owned by the trader over the death of the boy but we are investigating the matter,” he stated.

According to the security official, the residents raided the man’s shop setting it ablaze using petrol before heading to his homestead where they burnt down all the buildings there.

The mob also uprooted his Muguka crop in their outrage.

The police commander warned the residents against taking the law into their own hands adding that they had arrested the trader for questioning.

We have picked up the trader and he is assisting us with investigations,” he stated.

The body of the boy who had gone missing in December 2020, was discovered by criminal investigation officers in between rocks in the river with the tongue missing.

The body was taken to Siakago Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.

Area chief Charles Njeru noted that the residents launched a search for the boy when he had gone missing.

He added that the boy was the second child from the area to be retrieved from the river.

“Three months ago, a little girl was also found dead and floating in the water,” he added.

Source: Angry Residents Burn Down 4 Houses Belonging to Trader

Embu County, Kenya

Kenya: Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

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Recently, there has been an upsurge in ritualistic murders or allegations of ritual killings in the country. See my previous postings (January 2021, December 2020, November 2020) on suspected and reported cases – although we always have to bear in mind that very likely the number of suspected and discovered ritual murders are only the tip of the iceberg.  

The reason for this apparent increase in the number of ritual murders is not known.

The case reported below has all the characteristics of a ritual murder. However, since the body found had decomposed beyond recognition after remaining in water for weeks, an autopsy will be needed the determine the cause of the victim’s death.

It was reported that three months ago another child had been found dead in the river. 
(webmaster FVDK).

Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

Image: The Star

Published: January 15, 2021
By: The Star, Kenya – Reuben Githinji 

In Summary 

• Mutwiri went missing in late December from his home in Kavengero, Mbeere North.

• The suspect and his accomplices lured him as he played at home and took him to the river. 

A Embu boy, 16, led police in the search and recovery of the body of his four-year-old cousin he allegedly murdered and drank his blood in a suspected ritual sacrifice.  

The Standard 8 pupil on Wednesday led detectives to River Thuci where they recovered the body of Brayden Mutwiri. It had decomposed beyond recognition after remaining in water for weeks. Mutwiri went missing in late December from his home in Kavengero, Mbeere North.

The suspect and one of his accomplices were arrested on Monday and held at Siakago police station. He directed the police to the river where the body was found stuck between two rocks.

Speaking to the press at the scene, their uncle Nephat Nyaga said the suspect narrated how he and his accomplices murdered the boy, drank his blood, then threw his body into the river.

The suspect and his accomplices lured the boy as he played at home and took him to the river. 

Area chief Charles Njeru told the press that the boy mysteriously disappeared from home in late December and residents had been searching for him since.

Njeru said the bereaved family will have to wait for the postmortem result to ascertain that the body is Mutwiri’s.

The local administrator said this was the second incident of a missing child being found dead in the river. The first was a girl who went missing and her body retrieved from the river three months ago.

Njeru cautioned residents against settling their family grudges by attacking and killing children, urging them instead to follow the legal procedures of resolving disputes.

Residents condemned the killing and called for quick investigations so the killers are brought to book.

Purity Muringo said parents from the area now live in fear for the security of their schoolchildren. She said lives are at stake. Muringo called for thorough investigations to unravel the mysterious killings of innocent children.

Source: Ritual killing? Embu pupil says he slaughtered cousin, drank blood

Related articles:

Police retrieve body of four-year old who went missing

The body of Brayden Mutwiri was retrieved from River Thuci in Embu County. [Standard]

Published: January 14, 2021
By: The Standard, Kenya – Murithi Mugo  

The body of a four-year-old boy from Kavengero in Mbeere North Sub-County, Embu who went missing three weeks ago was yesterday found and retrieved from Thuci River.

The body of Brayden Mutwiri was retrieved after a long search since late December when he went missing.

Nephat Nyaga, uncle to the deceased said a 16-year-old boy is the main suspect.

Nyaga said the boy narrated how, with other accomplices from the area lured the deceased while playing at home and took him to the river where they killed him before dumping his body.

According to Nyaga, the suspects used the boy to commit the crime with a promise of monetary reward.

Source: Police retrieve body of four-year old who went missing