62-Year-Old Suspected Serial Rap!st and K!ller Charged with Triple Murd€r
A 62-year-old man suspected to be a serial r@pist and murd€rer appeared in court this week facing three chilling counts of murd€r committed between 2023 and 2024 across Chipinge and Chimanimani, in what prosecutors described as a calculated spree of s€xual violence and brutal k!ll!ngs.
Daniel Chauke, whose string of attacks has sent shockwaves through Manicaland communities, is accused of targeting vulnerable women, r@ping and strangling them to death—often after they spurned his advances.
In one of the crimes, he allegedly mutilated the victim’s body, taking away her private parts and clothing as gruesome trophies.
Ruth Sithole: The First Victim
On 21 October 2023, Chauke allegedly approached Ruth Sithole, who was working in her field in Chikwanda Village, Chief Mutema area in Chipinge.
When she turned down his offer to assist with manual work, Chauke allegedly turned violent dragging her by the neck for about 40 metres, before r@ping and strangling her.
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After k!ll!ng her, Chauke reportedly struck Sithole’s dog with a machete and walked off with her lunch box.
He was later arrested in possession of a spoon identified as belonging to the deceased.
A Grisly Repeat: Honeni Manaka Masimandoyo
On 24 April 2024, in Derera Village, Chief Ngorima, Chauke allegedly confronted Honeni Masimandoyo, whom he had proposed to.
When she declined, citing that she was married, Chauke allegedly dragged her into a bush, strangled her until she was weak, r@ped her, and then cut out her private parts with a knife.
He is said to have fled the scene with her underwear and a wrapping cloth, and was caught with the victim’s panties in his possession.
Third Strike: Siliya Maponese
The third victim, Siliya Maponese, was allegedly attacked on 26 May 2024 along a footpath near Budzi River in Chipinge.
Chauke reportedly proposed love, and when rejected, dragged her into nearby bushland where he r@ped and murd€red her.
He was later found in possession of her cellphone, which helped link him to the crime.
Meanwhile, authorities say all three cases bear the hallmarks of a serial predator with similar modus operandi involving r@pe, strangulation, and theft of victims’ personal items.
Chauke is being held in custody as the investigation continues. Prosecutors have indicated more charges may follow as they review cold cases in the region.
The court is expected to set a trial date in the coming weeks, with community members demanding swift justice for the victims of what is being described as one of Manicaland’s most disturbing crime sprees in recent years.
DISCLAIMER!!: There is use of strong words in the video
