Two Mutare Men Jailed 45 Years Each for Brutal Murder

By Edward Makuzva

Two Mutare men have each been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the brutal murder of a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer, whose lifeless body was discovered dumped along the Mutare–Harare railway line in Chikanga.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) confirmed that Brighton Gowero (29) and Takunda Makoni (21) were found guilty of the murder of Officer Tapiwa Mutyasira (29), following a gruesome chain of events that unfolded between 3 and 4 March 2023.

According to court records, the two men, acting in concert with an accomplice identified only as Courage, who remains at large, attacked the deceased with unknown objects, inflicting severe injuries that proved fatal. After the violent assault, the trio stole Mutyasira’s two cellphones before dumping his body on the nearby railway line in a bid to conceal the crime.

Tragically, a goods train later ran over the victim’s body, with the driver initially mistaking it for discarded material. It was only after closer inspection that the horrific truth was uncovered.

A post-mortem conducted at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital confirmed that the deceased succumbed to polytrauma—a term used to describe multiple severe injuries sustained from a violent assault.

Delivering judgment, the court condemned the actions of the two men as “barbaric and inhumane,” noting that they not only took an innocent life but also sought to desecrate the body in a desperate attempt to erase evidence of their crime.

The stiff sentence of 45 years each, the court said, reflects the gravity of their offence and serves as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe emphasized the need for citizens to value human life and to find peaceful means of resolving disputes.

“The NPAZ urges members of the public to respect the sanctity of life and to resolve disputes without resorting to violence. As a society, we must uphold the dignity and value of every human being,” the statement read.

The case once again highlights growing concern over violent crimes in the country, many of which stem from robberies and personal disputes. Authorities continue to call for community vigilance and cooperation in identifying and apprehending suspects, including the fugitive known as Courage, who remains on the run.

The National Prosecuting Authority reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining public confidence in the criminal justice system through the effective prosecution of serious offences.