The body of a 12-month-old infant was allegedly stolen from a grave by unknown people in Chisumbanje.
Police said the incident came to light on Saturday 06 May in Musaonyerwa Village.
In a post on the ZRP Twitter page on Monday, Police said the baby died on 7 February this year. Reads the post:
<blockquote>
Police in Chisumbanje are investigating circumstances surrounding a case of violating a grave in which a dug-out grave was found, with a missing corpse, on 06/05/23 at Musaonyerwa Village.
The violated grave was that of an infant (12 months) who passed on 07/02/23. The missing corpse has not yet been found.
Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police Station.
</blockquote>
Violating a grave refers to any action that desecrates or disturbs the resting place of the dead.
This is considered a serious taboo and disrespectful to the deceased and their family members.
Grave violations in Zimbabwe include digging up graves without proper authorisation, removing or stealing items from graves (such as headstones, ornaments, or even human remains), or using grave sites for purposes other than burial or memorialisation.
A significant proportion of the Zimbabwean population believes in witchcraft and the disappearance of the toddler’s remains could be viewed as the work of witches or people dabbling in “juju” who use human body parts for ritual purposes.
Violating a grave is considered a criminal offence and is punishable under the Burial and Cremation Act.
The penalty for violating a grave can vary depending on the severity of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
Those found guilty may face imprisonment for up to two years or be required to pay a fine.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

12 Month Old Baby's Grave Dug Up, Body “Stolen”

A 13-year-old boy from Checheche narrowly escaped death after he was attacked by a crocodile recently while crossing Save River with his friends.
Danmore Gwenzi fought the reptile with bare hands after it had grabbed his thigh.
He poked his hand into the mouth of the crocodile and it let loose its grip but removed a chunk of his flesh.
His friends ran away and alerted villagers who then rushed to the scene where they found Danmore on the riverbank.
The teenager was rushed to St Peter’s Hospital in Chisumbanje where he was admitted.
Danmore and his mother spoke to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/boy-13-fights-crocodile/">The Manica Post</a> about the attack. The boy said:
<blockquote>
We were crossing the Save River with my friends. The water was ankle high and we thought no crocodiles would be lurking there.
As we were about to reach the riverbank, the crocodile suddenly latched on me. It grabbed me on the thigh and I gathered some courage and poked my hand into its mouth.
The crocodile loosened its grip and I managed to wobble to safety. Other villagers then came to my rescue.
</blockquote>
His mother Marita Gwenzi said they were struggling with paying the hospital bills. She said:
<blockquote>
My son had a brush with death. I am happy he managed to survive. Danmore needs to be stitched and have a skin graft on his thigh. However, we are struggling to pay the bills.
</blockquote>
Last week, Cabinet adopted the establishment of a relief fund to cushion victims of human-wildlife conflicts but it is not clear if the Fund is now operational.

Boy (13) Fights Crocodile In Save River

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka, said villagers who benefit from government programmes should vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 general elections. 
Masuka said this while addressing villagers in the Chinyamukwakwa area of Chisumbanje, Chipinge, over the weekend while handing over 250 plots from ethanol producer, Green Fuel to the villagers.
He told the villagers that when they vote in 2023, they “must return the favour” to President Mnangagwa because he was the one who gave them free farming inputs. He said:
<blockquote>
Right now we see the rains are coming and we are busy ensuring that we organise and provide all inputs for you on time.
That is what we call Rural Development 8.0 so that you will be able to get the inputs on time.
The electoral campaign period is still way ahead. I am not a campaign manager, but let me try it here.
When you are given these agricultural inputs, you must think of one person in your mind — and that is the person who has given you the inputs — President [Emmerson Mnangagwa].
When you are given goats, think deeply of the person who has remembered you — you must return the favour and remember him too in 2023.
</blockquote>
Masuka also told the villagers that farming inputs come from ZANU PF, even though they were bought using taxpayers’ money. He said:
<blockquote>
I now want to speak on the issue of Members of Parliament (MPs). We had a situation whereby the inputs disappeared before they got to the beneficiaries. So the MPs should be witnesses during distribution to oversee it.
This is because these inputs come from ZANU PF, which is the ruling party that forms the government, and government acts on what ZANU PF says. So, the party must not be excluded.
</blockquote>
Masuka said traditional leaders will be given more fertiliser than ordinary villagers because, in the past, they would assist those who were starving. He said:
<blockquote>
You will be given enough fertilisers and other inputs for three plots. Village heads are in the distribution committees because they will know all of you.
We will give village heads more than everyone else — for seven plots, because long back when there was drought, the village heads would assist those who would be starving.
The headmen will also be given inputs for nine plots while the chief will get inputs for eleven plots.
Don’t think that these have been favoured, we have all been given by President ED.
</blockquote>
Opposition political parties and Civil Society Organisations have in the past accused ZANU PF of politicising agricultural inputs and food aid, especially towards general elections. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003219/minister-exposes-vote-buying-plot">NewsDay</a>

Minister Tells Villagers Who Receive Free Farming Inputs To Vote For ED

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of three men in Chisumbanje over possession of 2 340 kilogrammes of mbanje (marijuana or cannabis or dagga).
ZPR posted the development via its official Twitter handle on Thursday saying the trio was arrested ambush along the road near Rimbi Business Centre. Read the tweets:
<blockquote>The ZRP confirms the arrest of Austin Runozivei (38), Langton Tatenda (24), Bhero David (52) and Itai Langton and the recovery of 26 x 90 kgs of dagga in a Nissan Caravan in Chisumbanje on 10/02/21.
Police made an ambush along the road near Rimbi Business Centre where they arrested the suspects and recovered the dagga.</blockquote>
In 2018, the government, through Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018 (Dangerous Drugs – Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use Regulations) <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/04/28/govt-legalises-mbanje-farming/">legalised the production of cannabis (mbanje or marijuana or dagga) for medicinal or scientific purposes.</a> The producers must be licensed by the minister.
The SI was misunderstood by some as it was misinterpreted as authorising the farming of the herb for any purposes.
According to the SI, potential farmers were supposed to apply to the Minister of Health and Child Care for farming licences.
A handful of people have so far been arrested since 2018 over illegal possession of the herb.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/just-in-chisumbanje-trio-nabbed-with-2-3-tonnes-of-mbanje/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a>

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