Multiple Murder Suspect Anymore Zvitsva Found Mentally Fit to Stand Trial
Multiple homicide suspect Anymore Zvitsva has been ruled mentally stable and is expected to return to court today for the start of his trial.
Zvitsva appeared before Harare regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo on Tuesday, but the matter could not proceed because the report had not yet been formally filed before the court.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that the prosecution had requested that Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services bring Zvitsva back after the report was appraised to the authorities.
The State said this was done on the understanding that Zvitsva would plead to ten counts of rape and armed robbery.
The State is expected to put the charges to him today.
According to the allegations, on March 25 of last year at Plot 43 Nyakanupu, Guruve, Zvitsva allegedly went to the home of Charity Chidhawu, where he found her with her two-year-old son.
Prosecutors allege that Zvitsva—armed with a machete—forcibly took both mother and child into a thicket in the Nyakapupu mountain area, about one kilometre from the homestead.
It is further alleged that Zvitsva tied Chidhawu to a tree, killed her with the machete, dug a shallow grave, mutilated the body by cutting the limbs, and buried her.
Prosecutors also allege that Zvitsva then killed the child in a similar manner, dug another shallow pit, and buried him.
In another case, prosecutors allege that on September 24 last year, Zvitsva met Tariro Gotora while she was herding cattle near the Hunyani River in Chiwe Village, Raffingora.
Gotora was reportedly carrying her baby on her back. Prosecutors allege that Zvitsva, armed with a machete, ordered her to remove the baby and throw him into the Chisanga River.
She complied, prosecutors say, and Zvitsva then dragged her into nearby bushes where he raped her.
Prosecutors further allege that after raping Gotora, Zvitsva strangled her using a snare wire, dragged her body to the Hunyani River, and threw her into the river.
On October 9, Providence Maruza, 27, was reportedly sleeping in her room at Ditwi Village, Chiwe Farm, Raffingora, with her door unlocked.
Prosecutors allege that Zvitsva, armed with an Okapi knife and a snare wire, pushed the door open, entered, and threatened to kill Maruza if she screamed.
They allege that Zvitsva tied her and dragged her toward the thicket of the Dangemuri mountains, where he raped her.
Prosecutors say he then stabbed her once on the back and once on the neck before leaving the scene.
On October 27, prosecutors allege that Zvitsva, armed with a machete, met Reginet Sango at Mudhindo Village, Chief Bepura, Kachuta, Guruve.
Sango, 62, was fetching water at a borehole when, prosecutors say, Zvitsva produced the machete and demanded to have sexual intercourse.
They allege Sango attempted to flee but was pursued and caught.
It is further alleged that Zvitsva struck her on the head and on the left arm with the machete, raped her once without protection, strangled her with wire around her neck, and left her unconscious at the scene.
