MUTARE
–
A
Chipinge
man
has
been
jailed
for
life
by
the
High
Court
in
Mutare
for
the
brutal
rape
and
murder
of
his
neighbour.
Justice
Isaac
Muzenda
on
Wednesday
told
Fanwell
Ndawana
that
he
had
committed
a
“vicious,
callous
and
brutal
attack”
on
a
defenceless
woman
with
clear
intent
for
which
he
must
be
sent
away
for
life.
The
incident
took
place
on
August
13,
2024,
at
Mbezuma
homestead
in
Mukomba
Village
under
Chief
Musikavanhu.
The
National
Prosecuting
Authority’s
star
witness
William
Sithole
was
at
the
homestead
with
two
other
children
at
around
9PM
when
he
heard
the
sound
of
someone
groaning.
He
observed
their
neighbour
Ndawana
walking
up
to
and
peeping
through
the
glass
panel
of
the
dining
room
door.
Moments
later,
Ndawana
opened
the
door
whilst
holding
a
steel
object
and
advanced
towards
Sithole
who
escaped
into
the
spare
bedroom
and
locked
the
door
from
inside.
Sithole
later
heard
Ndawana’s
footsteps
as
he
ran
from
the
house.
Sithole
went
into
the
dining
room
which
was
being
used
by
the
victim
as
a
bedroom
and
saw
her
lying
facing
upwards
on
her
bed
sheet
breathing
heavily
while
bleeding
from
the
right
ear
and
mouth.
The
victim’s
jean
trousers
and
pants
were
pulled
down
to
knee
level.
Sithole
screamed
for
help,
alerting
neighbours.
A
pathologist
concluded
that
the
cause
of
death
was
due
to
subarachnoid
hemorrhage
(bleeding
in
the
brain)
and
head
trauma.
Ndawana
left
a
grey
dust
coat
on
the
sofa
and
a
pair
of
pink
sandals
was
found
besides
the
victim’s
body.
Ndawana
was
arrested
near
Save
River
and
led
the
police
for
indications
as
well
as
the
recovery
of
the
murder
weapon.
Justice
Muzenda
said:
“It
is
our
finding
that
from
the
totality
of
all
the
evidence
placed
before
us
by
the
state,
there
was
clear
intention
to
cause
death.
“Immediately
after
fatally
assaulting
the
now
deceased,
the
accused
fled
from
the
scene
after
he
had
achieved
his
target.
“Accused
sexually
molested
the
now
deceased
given
the
conditions
of
her
attire.
Her
jeans
were
withdrawn
up
to
the
knee
level
exposing
her
private
parts.
“That
condition
shows
that
the
sexual
conduct
of
the
accused
was
not
consensual.
As
a
result
it
is
our
finding
that
the
murder
was
committed
in
aggravating
circumstances.
“Her
nakedness
was
seen
by
people
of
all
ages
as
well
as
male
police
details.
The
aggravatory
factors
far
outweigh
the
mitigatory
features.
The
only
appropriate
sentence
is
custodial.
“Accordingly
you
are
sentenced
to
life
Imprisonment.”