By Takudziridzwa Nyama
A 35 year old man man from Gutu, Tongai Chirume, was arrested for the rape and murder of his sister, Mercy Chirume, and her 4-year-old daughter, Isabel Fadzai Machote.
Investigations by the police established that the suspect allegedly visited his sister, Mercy Chirume (33), at their late parents’ residence in Makurumidze Village, Gutu, Masvingo.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) states that Tongai Chirume, allegedly deceived her sister into believing that a prophet had instructed him to sleep with her to cleanse the family of evil spirits. The suspect then raped the victim twice.
After the offense, the victim threatened to expose the suspect’s actions by reporting him to the police.
Chirume then stabbed the victim to death with a knife and went on to strangle the victim’s 4-year-old daughter, Isabel Fadzai Machote, to death after attempting to rape the infant.
He subsequently dumped the infant’s body in an open well.
The suspect also stole a cellphone from the scene, which is yet to be recovered.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has since recovered the kitchen knife used to kill one of the victims.