Police commander for Limpopo Province in South Africa, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has firmly dismissed the claims circulating on social media that foreign nationals are allegedly working with South Africans to kill people for their body parts.
It has been alleged that organised criminals hijack vehicles and approach homes under the guise of seeking help. Once granted entry, they reportedly kill occupants and harvest their body parts while they are still alive.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Lt Gen Hadebe condemned these rumours as baseless and untrue, reassuring the public that there is no truth to these horrifying claims. She said:
<blockquote>
One of our biggest threats at the moment is fake news. We strongly condemn the spreading of fake news, unverified information, rumours, or threats, as this causes panic, confusion, and, in some cases, incites potential violence. We urge members of the public to fact-check before sharing anything on social media platforms.
</blockquote>
Lt Gen Hadebe warned that the police would arrest those found sharing inflammatory messages. She urged the public to report instances of fake news to law enforcement for prompt action against the culprits.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The police in South Africa say rumors about people being killed for their body parts are not true. They said criminals are not attacking homes to harvest body parts. The police commander urged people to check facts before sharing news on social media. She warned that those spreading fake news will be arrested. People are asked to report fake news to the police. The police are taking action to stop the spread of false information.

South African Police Dismiss Ritual Murder Rumours

A businessman from Headlands, Manicaland Province, John Madondo, who operates shops at Eagle Nest area, is accused of hiring a hitman to kill a person and bring to him the head to perform money-making rituals.
As reported by <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/businessman-hires-hitman-to-kill-child/">The Manica Post</a>, the allegations emerged during the trial of Tatenda Mudziwedare (20) of Village 5B, Sherenje who pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to murder a seven-year-old Grade One learner on the alleged instruction of Madondo.
Madondo is reported to be in South Africa and was allegedly communicating with Mudziwedare over the phone, giving him instructions.
Mudziwedare was not represented when he appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Francis Mapfumo.
He pleaded guilty to violating Section 187 as read with Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which criminalises attempts to kill a person. The charge sheet reads:
<blockquote>
Tatenda Mudziwedare is charged with the crime of attempted murder as defined in Section 187, as read with Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23 in that on February 28, 2024, and at Sherenje Business Centre, Headlands, he (Tatenda Mudziwedare) attempted to cause the death of Alvin Kambadza by squeezing his neck with both hands after having been instructed by a businessman, John Madondo, to bring a human head for rituals.
</blockquote>
Mapfumo convicted Mudziwedare of the offence and was expected to sentence him yesterday (Thursday).
Tawanda Munjanja, representing the state, said Mudziwedare tried to kill the boy by strangling his neck, and only aborted the mission after he saw some villagers approaching. Said Munjanja:
<blockquote>
The complainant is a Grade One learner. On February 28, 2024, at around 7 am, Mudziwedare was at Sherenje Business Centre when he saw the complainant and other learners going to Sherenje Primary School.
Mudziwedare chased the learners and managed to grab the complainant. He squeezed the complainant on the neck using both hands.
The accused person saw some local villagers at a distance and let go of the complainant.
The matter came to light when the complainant reported what happened to his mother.
</blockquote>
Ritual killings are common in Zimbabwe, and the murderers usually target defenceless children.
Some witch doctors and traditional healers in Zimbabwe propagate the notion that the blood of young children is pure and can bring blessings and good luck.
These beliefs lead desperate individuals to commit heinous acts, believing that body parts from children can be used in rituals to create wealth.
One of the high-profile ritual murders in recent years was that of Tapiwa Makore, a seven-year-old boy from Murehwa, Mashonaland East province.
Tapiwa’s murder in September 2020 shocked the nation and sparked widespread outrage.
Two individuals, Tafadzwa Shamba and Tapiwa Makore Senior, were sentenced to death for their involvement in Tapiwa’s gruesome ritual murder.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Headlands Businessman Allegedly Hires Hitman To Kill Grade One Learner For Rituals

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says it has taken note of social media claims about ritual killings in Harare’s Central Business District.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Police said they will issue an official statement on Tuesday “to set the record straight”, adding:
<blockquote>
Meanwhile, the public is urged not to panic or take heed of unsubstantiated social media posts.
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.zimlive.com/police-hunt-serial-killer-after-bodies-of-5-homeless-men-found-inside-week-in-harare/">ZimLive</a> reported on Monday that Police in Harare are investigating the deaths of five homeless men in less than a week, believed to be victims of a lone serial killer.
The report said Police believe there could be a ritualistic motive to the killings as some of the bodies were opened up and had parts missing.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Social Media Posts About Ritual Murders In Harare "Unsubstantiated" - Police

High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi on Wednesday, 12 July sentenced <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Tapiwa_Makore">Tapiwa Makore’s</a> killers to death, reported <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/breaking-news-tapiwa-makore-killers-sentenced-to-death/">H-Metro</a>.
Tafadzwa Shamba was last month convicted of murder while the boy’s uncle and namesake, Tapiwa Makore was found guilty of being an accomplice.
Justice Mutevedzi ordered that both Shamba and Makore are to be returned to custody, and death sentences will be initiated on them.
During the trial, it was established that the duo killed and mutilated the then seven-year-old boy to boost Tapiwa Snr’s cabbage business.
Tapiwa was a Grade One learner at Nyamutumbu Primary School and his teacher, Keresia Makamure, described him as an intelligent, obedient child whose future was bright.
The boy was sent by his parents to look after the garden on the morning of 17 September 2020.
Later that day, Tapiwa’s parents went to the garden to do some watering and found that their son was missing.
His parents and some villagers started searching for him and the search was conducted until midnight but they could not find him.
On the following day, 18 September, in the morning, a neighbour reportedly woke up and discovered his dog and its puppies feasting on human body parts in his yard.
He then informed Tapiwa’s parents and a report was made to the police. The body’s head was missing.
Several arrests people were arrested in connection with the murder, including Thanks Makore, Tapiwa’s uncle amid allegations that he was given the boy’s head and arms.
Thanks was said to be a twin brother of Tapiwa Makore Snr, and a cousin of Munyaradzi Makore, Tapiwa Makore Jnr’s father.
On 13 October 2022, Justice Mutevedzi formally acquitted Thanks Makore and another suspect Moud Hunidzarira of the murder of Tapiwa Makore Jnr at the close of the prosecution case.
Hunidzarira of Budiriro, Harare, was arrested during the weekend of 31 October and 01 November 2020 following a tip-off by the public.
It was alleged that she was in Murewa when the murder occurred and a few days later was seen by some neighbours in Harare, cleaning an item that had blood.
However, the State withdrew the charges against the two for lack of incriminating evidence.
Meanwhile, the Government is considering abolishing the death penalty. The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs conducted nationwide consultations with the public and various stakeholders on a proposed move to abolish the death penalty.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Tapiwa Makore's Killers Sentenced To Death

The man convicted of killing seven-year-old <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Tapiwa_Makore">Tapiwa Makore</a> in September 2020, will be sentenced today (Wednesday) by the High Court.
Last month High Court judge Munamato Mutevedzi found Tafadzwa Shamba guilty of the murder of Tapiwa.
The boy’s uncle and namesake Tapiwa Makore, was found guilty of being an accomplice after he provided his house for the commissioning of the crime.
The court found insufficient evidence to convict Tapiwa Makore Senior of the murder itself.
Shamba confessed to the murder and this statement was confirmed by a magistrate and accepted by the High Court.
He told the court that they killed the Tapiwa with the intention of selling his body parts to a witch doctor for US$1 500.
Tapiwa’s body parts were found in different places but his head is yet to be located.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Tapiwa Makore's Killer To Be Sentenced Today

Two men have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 4-year-old girl in Mutoko, Zimbabwe.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, police said the incident occurred on June 22, 2023, at Hurumutumbu Business Centre. According to the police, Pedo Samu (52) and Godfrey Gatsi (38) kidnapped the girl on her way home from school. Pedo Samu admitted to intending to kill the victim for ritual purposes after being promised US$1500.00 by Godfrey Gatsi. The police investigation also revealed that the young girl was sexually abused. Reads the police report posted on Twitter:
<blockquote>
Police in Mutoko have arrested Pedo Samu (52) and Godfrey Gatsi (38) in connection with a case of kidnapping which occurred on 22/06/23 at Hurumutumbu Business Centre in which an ECD pupil (4) was abducted on her way home from school.
Pedo Samu allegedly confessed that he intended to kill the victim for ritual purposes after being promised US$1500.00 by Godfrey Gatsi. Investigations by the police established that the victim was sexually abused.
</blockquote>
Ritual-related murders in Zimbabwe are a growing problem, with vulnerable individuals often targeted for their body parts believed to have supernatural powers.
The recent case comes when the murder case of 7-year-old Tapiwa Makore in September 2020 which sparked outrage and calls for justice is yet to be concluded. His body was discovered without a head, and it is believed that his body parts were used for ritual purposes.
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