A 31-year-old woman from Dema in Seke Rural allegedly murdered her 3-year-old son at a local Apostolic sect shrine in the dead of the night on Monday this week.
Police said the suspect, Linnet Takawira, was found sitting in an ash pit stark naked with ashes smeared all over her body. ZRP posted on Twitter:
<blockquote>
Police in Mash East Province have arrested a mental patient, Linnet Takawira (31) in connection with the callous killing of her son, Tanatswa Mutasa Dzinamarira (3).
The suspect sneaked out of the house with the child whilst her husband was asleep and went to an apostolic church shrine on 13/02/23 at Dhizha Village, Chirasavana, Dema.
The victim was found dead the next morning at the shrine with wet ashes stuffed in the mouth, ears, nose and eyes, whilst the suspect was sitting in an ash pit, naked, with ashes all over the body.
</blockquote>
In January this year, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/woman-claims-a-voice-during-prayer-session-instructed-her-to-kill-own-children/">a</a><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/woman-claims-a-voice-during-prayer-session-instructed-her-to-kill-own-children/"> 24-year-old woman from Buhera</a>, Manicaland Province, was arrested for murder after she crushed her two-month-old baby’s head against a rock and killed him during a prayer session.
The woman, Mary Rukobo, from Mashangana Village in the Muzokomba area in Buhera said she heard a voice instructing her to kill her two children, including the now-deceased, while she was engaged in prayer.
Police said the matter came to light after Rukobo confessed to the murder to some villagers.

Pindula News

Mum (31) Murders Son (3) At Church Shrine

A 19-year-old self-styled spiritual healer from Dzivaresekwa is on the run after he allegedly raped a 24-year-old married woman at a shrine in Kuwadzana 7 on November 3 last year.
The suspect, Carlos Mandizvidza, is alleged to have claimed that he had the power to stop the death of the woman’s child.
He allegedly instructed his victim to smear vaseline on her private parts before raping her.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Harare Province, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/healer-rapes-married-woman/">H-Metro</a>. He said:
<blockquote>
Police are investigating a rape case involving a Dzivaresekwa spiritual healer. In November, the complainant received information via a WhatsApp group that there was a prophet in Kuwadzana 7 who helps people with spiritual problems.
She then communicated with the accused person and narrated her spiritual problems.
The accused person confirmed that he could assist and referred her to his shrine at Kuwadzana New Stands in Harare.
On November 3, the complainant went to the shrine where she was instructed to rub vaseline on and inside her private parts. This was done while the accused person closed his eyes.
After about 29 minutes of rubbing, the accused person opened his eyes and told his victim that the spirit had instructed him to do the rubbing and raped her.
She was threatened that her child would die if she disclosed the act to anyone.
The complainant claims to have disclosed the act to a relative on January 23. The accused person is on the run.
</blockquote>
Carlos denied that he raped the woman saying she lured him into having sex with her and wanted him to marry her. He said:
<blockquote>
I am aware that I had sexual intercourse with the woman. She is the one who lured me into having sex with her and wanted me to marry her.
I learned about her marital status after her husband phoned me over my messages he found on her mobile phone. I am on my way to Botswana as we speak.
</blockquote>

Self-styled Spiritual Healer (19) Rapes Married Woman (24)

The Grade 7 pupil from Katanga, Norton, a small town in Mashonaland West Province, who died while giving birth in Bikita on 04 October, was buried in Mt Darwin on Thursday.
Nokutenda Hwaramba’s body was ferried from Bikita to Mt Darwin on Wednesday and laid to rest on the following day.
Her father, Bernard Hwaramba, told <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/norton-teen-laid-to-rest/">H-Metro</a> that they will release the details related to the circumstances which led to his 15-year-old daughter’s death in due course. He said:
<blockquote>
We have laid Nokutenda to rest. We saw it best to lay her to rest early since we spent the night travelling.
Details surrounding her death will be released later since we are still mourning her.
Nokutenda died on Tuesday at an apostolic church shrine while giving birth.
</blockquote>
She had been taken to the shrine by her father for prayers as their church doctrine does not allow them to seek medical help at hospitals.
Some Katanga residents had threatened to beat up Bernard, and his church members, accusing them of causing the death of Nokutenda.
Speaking to H-Metro on Wednesday, Nokutenda’s mother, Loice Muparadziwo, said her daughter was impregnated by one of their neighbours, one Aaron. She said:
<blockquote>
Nokutenda was said to have been impregnated by one Aaron from our neighbourhood.
She got sick and would just fall down as if possessed by evil spirits.
Her father consulted prophets from his congregation and later took her to Bikita for more prayers.
He left Nokutenda in the hands of the intercessors and she died while giving birth at the shrine.
The church doctrine did not allow us to take Nokutenda to a clinic, or hospital, to give birth or for any medical treatment.
I failed to accompany them to Bikita because I was also due to deliver and I had a miscarriage at Norton General Hospital on the day Nokutenda passed away.
</blockquote>
Nokutenda’s death echoes the death of 14-year-old Anna Machaya who died while giving birth in Marange in July 2021 and that of 15-year-old Ferby Munyafi of Chiadzwa Village in Marange who died in January 2022 from excessive bleeding while delivering.
Hatirarami Momberume alias Evans Michael Momberume, a devotee of the Johane Marange apostolic sect has been charged with Anna’s murder.
Anna’s parents, Edmore Machaya (45) and Shy Mabika (36) were jailed for nine months each – wholly suspended – for lying to detectives about her age.
Ferby died on 12 January 2022 and police charged her “husband” 29-year-old Arthur Chitombo with having sexual relations with a minor.

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