By Thelma Wandayi
Residents of Marozva village in Shurugwi were left dumbfounded as a horrific incident unfolded, leading to the brutal murder of a 94 year-old woman.
Esther Marozva, was allegedly beaten to death by her own grandson, Takudzwa Mugariri, who accused her of witchcraft.
The gruesome incident engulfing Esther Marozva’s family homestead occurred on 3rd of February 2024.
Present at the time of the vicious crime were Esther’s son, Chamunorwa Mugariri (50), and her daughter-in-law, Soneni Mpofa (36).
Just after 8:00pm that night, their supposedly harmless familial gathering began to sour leading them into a narrative of pure horror.
With anger raging inside him, Takudzwa confronted his elderly grandmother with a devastating accusation of witchcraft.
Igniting his frenzied animosity to unspeakable levels, he went on a rampage, snatching Esther’s garments and burning them.
Sadly, Chamunorwa and Soneni’s attempts at mediation failed painfully as Takudzwa’s frenzy continued to be impervious to reason.
Despite attempts by Esther’s son and daughter-in-law to intervene, Takudzwa continued his violent assault on his grandmother.
Tragically, Esther succumbed to her injuries before help could arrive, leaving her lifeless body discovered by her son, Chamunorwa.
Takudzwa fled the scene and is currently on the run, evading authorities.
Midlands Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident
The police have launched a manhunt for Takudzwa Mugariri and are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
“We are appealing to members of the public who might have information that can lead to the arrest of Takudzwa Mugariri to approach any nearest police station. We also urge relatives to resolve disputes peacefully and respect the sanctity of life,” said Inspector Mahoko.
This heinous crime serves as a stark reminder of the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and respecting the sanctity of life within families and communities.