A Snake Park man was over the weekend dragged to answer to murder charges after he reportedly murdered the fish monger whose corpse was found floating in Lake Chivero last week.

The suspect Bright Zhantali 29, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, he was referred to the High Court for bail considerations.

Allegations are that on June 21 at around 3pm, Zhantali was wearing a shirt similar to the ones worn by Parks Rangers when he met now deceased Nester Chiikwengo aged 45 who was self-employed as a fishmonger who intended to buy fish for resale.

The two boarded a private Honda Fit and before they arrived they disembarked on the pretext that that he would be seen by alleged co-workers on duty that he had fish and they used a path which is left of the boom gate.

As they were on the pathway, he allegedly grabbed her and started demanding money before he took her US$30 and her cell phone and raped her and as she was screaming he gagged her and she died.

When he realised that she had died, he took her clothes and bucket and burnt them at an anthill and went away.

On July 4, the informant Simon Makwansila of Kamba Caravan Park went to the forest for prayers and smelt a stench smell and when he went to investigate he discovered the decomposing body.

Zhantali was identified wearing the same attire by members of the public who apprehended him and handed him over to the police.- H-Metro