GRUESOME MURDER BY ZANU-PF: Shocks Murewa Community!

ZANU PF MURDERS AN OLD WOMAN

Villagers in Chidhakwa Village, Ward 10 Murewa North, were left shocked following the gruesome murder of Ambuya Theresa Nkosa Jackson (65) and her granddaughter Jane (14) in what is suspected to be a case of political violence. The two, who lived at an isolated homestead, were found dead by neighbours outside their family hut on Friday morning. According to eye witnesses and police sources Jackson’s forehead, eyes, nose and mouth were chopped off, while her the back of her neck had a deep cut typical of that inflicted with a machete. Jane’s body was discovered in the family field a few meters from that of her dead grandmother in a kneeling position. Her eyes had been pierced with a sharp object.

Some police officers who declined to be identified told The Zimbabwean that it would appear Jane was murdered while fleeing the scene to alert neighbours.“The way the murder was carried out suggested that it was done by expert serial killers. Unfortunately, no arrests have been made so far,” said the police officer.

According to neighbours, recently Ambuya Jackson was intimidated by a Zanu (PF) member, identified as Murefu, at Murewa Centre. Murefu allegedly ordered the deceased to remove party regalia used as campaign material by a Zanu (PF) breakaway independent candidate, Daniel Garwe. The matter was reported at Murewa Police Station leading to the arrest of Murefu, who later appeared before the Magistrates Court and was found not guilty. He allegedly went on to intimidate Jackson with unspecified action for reporting him to the police.

“We are shocked at the barbaric murder perpetrated against a defenceless old woman and her grandchild. We knew the two deceased as sociable people who would go around Murewa Centre selling farm produce and paraffin for a living,” said a villager, who only wanted to be identified as Masunungure. When contacted for comment Murefu could neither confirm nor deny having threatened Ambuya Jackson and ordering her to remove party regalia. He said he could not clearly recall events of the day since he suspected that he was drunk.

“It is true that I was arrested and appeared at the Magistrates Court last week for allegedly ordering the late Ambuya Jackson to remove regalia. The court found me not guilty and I was subsequently acquitted,” Murefu told The Zimbabwean in a telephone interview. He claimed that he did not know the late Ambuya Jackson and only saw her for the first time at the courts. He said he was shocked to learn that she and her granddaughter had been murdered.

Murewa court prosecutor Marufu said he was not in a position to comment to the media. Efforts to get official comments from Murewa police were fruitless, since the office phone went on ringing without being picked up. Both bodies are at Murewa Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem. Following the murder, villagers were locking themselves indoors before sunset as they feared for their lives. Some incidents of political violence are being reported in some parts of the country especially in Mashonaland East Province.