A former police officer from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s home is on the run after he ran amok yesterday, shooting and killing three people including the Officer-in-Charge of Wedza Police Station and an apostolic sect prophet, under unclear circumstances. Another policeman is battling for life in hospital after he was seriously injured during the shooting which occurred at around 2.30pm in Wedza. Sources told The Herald last night that the suspect is Jaison Muvhevhi, a former Criminal Investigations Department officer, who is armed with an FN rifle and is considered dangerous.
Driving a white Toyota Allion, Muvhevhi arrived at the apostolic sect shrine at 2.30pm where members had congregated for their Friday prayers, and immediately pulled out a firearm and shot at one of the sect’s leaders from point blank range. He then attacked policemen who had heeded a distress call. The lone gunman then shot and killed the Wedza Police Station Officer-in-Charge and seriously injured another police officer.
A lifeless body of one of the three people shot and killed by Muvhevhi. From there, as if possessed by some evil spirit, Muvhevhi drove his vehicle to Mukamba Business Centre where he shot and killed another person, before speeding off. In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is urgently appealing for information which may immediately lead to the arrest of a suspect who is driving a Toyota Allion, new shape, white in colour, registration number AFW 7641.
Statement issued by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. “The suspect drove his vehicle and went to Mukamba Business Centre where he shot another person dead and drove away. The suspect is currently on the run and the public is urged to approach him with extreme caution.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect can report at any nearest police station or contact National Complaints Desk number 0242 703631 or WhatsApp number 0712 800197 or Mashonaland East Operations number 06523 20581. Not much detail could be obtained last night, especially the motive for the killings, as police officers said the immediate task was to track down the suspect and bring him into custody before he commits further crimes. At the time of the shootings, the suspect was said to be in the company of a driver whose name could not be established by the time of going to print last night. Some people who contacted The Herald from Wedza yesterday said Negombwe Village in the Mukamba area under Chief Ruzane has been shocked by the killings. They said some of the villagers immediately went to hide in their gardens and fields while others left the area completely to avoid contact with the armed killer. There were indications that the suspect had a grudge with many people in the village after they blocked him from setting up a gold mining business, arguing that his project would take up a large area of livestock pastures.- State Media