By A Correspondent- Tafadzwa Shamba, a Murehwa herdsman who was recently arrested over the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (7) at Makore Village in Murehwa, on Tuesday told detectives what happened from the time they kidnapped the boy to the day after the murder.
Shamba was taken by detectives to the garden where he kidnapped the boy allegedly under the instructions of the boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Senior).
He also led police to the uncle’s homestead where he said he fed the boy, drugged him with kachasu (an illicit beer brew) and locked him up in a room for hours.
He said:
I went to the kitchen hut and brought the boy sadza and dried fish. I washed his hands before giving him the food. After eating, I went to Mrs Katsande’s homestead where i bought five litres of illicit brew (kachasu).
I drank the beer to gather courage. I also put a bit of sugar into the brew and offered it to the boy who took it until he got drunk and slept.
I then locked him up in the room before going back to Mrs Katsande’s homestead for more beer.
Around midnight, we opened the door and I carried the boy, who was still in deep slumber to a mountain in the village.
Mr Makore carried the knives and plastic bags. While here (in the mountain), I pressed the boy to the ground and cut off his head with a sharp knife, while his uncle was holding a torch for lighting.
I also cut off the hands and legs, but we packed the parts in different plastic bags.
I carried the one with the torso and the head while Mr Makore carried another one containing the legs and hands.
… The bag was now heavier and dogs were barking. I had to quickly drop the torso and proceeded with the head.
Shamba said Makore instructed him to put the head in one of the rooms, but the following day, he dumped the arms and legs at a nearby grave.
Tapiwa Makore (Senior), the murdered boy’s uncle was also arrested over Tapiwa Makore (Junior)’s murder.