An 11-year-old Murehwa boy has been implicated in the ritual murder of Tapiwa Makore (Jnr) in late September this year.
Police investigations in the murder of Tapiwa, 7, have revealed that the boy from Nyamutumbu Village was paid $5 to lure the now deceased from the garden to his uncle’s homestead.
The murdered boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Snr) allegedly gave the boy $5 plus a T-shirt for his role in the murder and cover-up.
Makore (Snr) warned him against disclosing the matter to other villagers, but the boy handed over the money to his mother who kept the matter a secret. The mother is said to have used the money to buy chicken.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the latest development.
He also revealed that the boy will testify as a witness in the murder trial.
Two women, Joina Tangirire and a relative, Enia Tangirire, allegedly bought meat from Tafadzwa Shamba, Makore’s herdsman, who was allegedly involved in the murder.
The women were recently picked up for questioning by police after it emerged that they had unknowingly bought human flesh from Shamba. The human flesh is thought to have been part of the murdered boy’s thigh.
The Tangirires, who sold opaque beer and kachasu from their homestead, allegedly obtained the meat from Shamba for six containers of opaque beer. The flesh was however consumed by the whole family.
Shamba and Makore (Snr) are in remand prison pending the murder trial.