Beheaded woman buried amid protests
THE burial of the 40-year-old Hurungwe West woman Dadirai Mushonga, who was allegedly beheaded by her brother Isaac at the instigation of a businessman, who wanted the head for rituals, sparked wild protests yesterday.
Isaac had allegedly been offered $4 000 to kill his sister by businessman Robert Tichareva.
Angry villagers set on fire Tichareva’s property at Zvipani Business Centre, including his two vehicles, grocery shop, warehouse and a bottle store.
They looted groceries, grain from the warehouse and beer, ostensibly to feed mourners. They also threatened to behead Tichareva the same way Dadirai was killed. Tichareva was fondly known as Giant in the area before he was implicated in the gruesome murder.
In a speech read on his behalf by his representative Mr Farai Nyahumbare at Ms Mushonga’s burial, Headman Matau condemned ritual murders, saying they were responsible for misfortunes like drought and pests.
He said Tichareva and Isaac were expected to pay a fine of two beasts each to the village court, one for a cleansing ceremony and another would be surrendered to a spirit medium.
The remaining two would be handed over to Chief Dandawa and Headman Matau. These fines have nothing to do with court proceedings underway.
Isaac and Tichareva appeared before magistrate Mr Sam Chitumwa on Monday facing murder charges and were remanded in custody to July 30.
The State alleges that sometime early this month, the two hatched a plan to behead Dadirai as Tichareva wanted her head for rituals to boost his business.
Tichareva allegedly promised Isaac $4 000 on receiving the head.
It is alleged around 2am on July 14, Isaac sneaked into Dadirai’s hut where he beheaded her and took the head to Tichareva at Zvipani Business Centre.
Tichareva phoned Isaac ordering him to hide the head in his vehicle at his premises.
He later told Isaac to hide the head in a bush close to the premises.
Villagers grilled Isaac after noticing blood stains on his clothes and he spilled the beans.