Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Brutal Murder in Bikita
The High Court sitting in Masvingo has convicted Simbarashe Zano (35) of murder and sentenced him to an effective 16 years in prison for the killing of Gift Mudyiwa (32) in Bikita.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on March 16, 2022, at Chinhamo Business Centre.
On the night of March 15, Zano and Mudyiwa were drinking beer at Mugabe Bar. Around 3:00 AM, Mudyiwa left the bar to buy more beer at Brian Bandauko’s shop.
A witness testified that she saw Zano early the following morning, at around 5:00 AM, dragging a heavy object near the Chinhamo Business Centre bus stop.
She identified him by his distinctive dreadlocks and the blue T-shirt he had been wearing the previous day when she visited his shrine. Upon noticing the witness, Zano fled.
At approximately 5:30 AM, Mudyiwa’s body was discovered lying in a pool of blood, face down, with visible head injuries.
A bloodstained log was found near the scene. Police arrived at the crime scene around 8:00 AM, and the body was transported to Masvingo General Hospital for a post-mortem.
The examination confirmed that the cause of death was severe head trauma resulting from blunt force injuries.
Following the discovery, Zano went into hiding and managed to evade arrest for over a year. He was finally apprehended in October 2023.
During sentencing, the court considered the brutal nature of the attack and the fact that Zano attempted to conceal the crime.
However, the court also took into account mitigating factors, including his personal circumstances, before handing down a 16-year prison term.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) welcomed the verdict, stating, “Justice has been served. The courts remain firm in dealing with violent crimes to ensure the safety of our communities.”
