Body of Missing Beatrice Woman Found Burnt in Veld Fire
BEATRICE – Human remains believed to be those of Tanaka Time, a 30-year-old woman who went missing on August 18, were discovered in a bush area in Beatrice, Mashonaland East, on August 26.
Police say the body was partially burnt, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding her death.
The discovery was made by Teclar Rukwapuro (46), a local resident who was walking along a dust road near Rocklands Farm to collect firewood.
She noticed a body lying face upwards in the bush and immediately alerted authorities.
Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi confirmed the incident.
“On August 26 2025, at around 7 am, Teclar Rukwapuro (46) was walking along a dust road on her way to Rocklands farm, Beatrice, to fetch firewood when she saw a body lying face upwards in the bush,” he said.
He added that the surrounding bush area had been scorched by a veld fire.
“The body was lying face upwards, with several parts burnt. She had a partially burnt red T-shirt around her neck, a shower cap covering her face, and a cloth shoved into her mouth,” said Chazovachiyi.
Police recovered a pair of black sandals and a Samsung A5 cellphone—both partially burnt—a few metres from the body.
Tanaka Time had last been seen at her home in Rocklands New Stands on August 18 around midday.
Her husband, Tom Jacob (30), reported her missing two days later, on August 20.
He was later called to the scene and positively identified the body as that of his wife.
The remains were taken to Chitungwiza Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Inspector Chazovachiyi said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death and whether foul play was involved.
The Herald reported that parts of Time’s body appeared to have been burnt by a veld fire, though it remains unclear whether the fire occurred before or after her death.
