Six-year-old Steadfast Makondo sexually assaulted and killed; Councillor on the run after allegedly confessing
Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
CHIREDZI – A six-year-old Early Childhood Development pupil who went missing from Chiredzi Government Primary School last month was raped before she was murdered, postmortem results have confirmed, as police launch a manhunt for a local councillor who allegedly confessed to the crime before fleeing.
Steadfast Makondo disappeared on 27 January 2026 and was later found dead in a bush. Authorities are now searching for Ward 19 Chiredzi Rural District councillor Lovemore Muchono, who transported the child to and from school and is believed to have been the last person to see her alive.
National Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the grim findings to Zim GBC News.
“Yes, I can confirm that the child was abused and murdered. She had marks and multiple bruises on her body, so we are treating this as a murder case,” Nyathi said.
‘He left a note in his car’ — Confession letter details
According to police sources, Muchono attended the child’s funeral on 2 February before disappearing shortly afterwards. He allegedly left a confession letter inside his vehicle claiming he had mistakenly left Steadfast in his car after dropping other children at school.
The note purportedly states that Muchono only realised his error at lunch hour, by which time the child was already dead.
Investigators have not confirmed the veracity of the account contained in the letter, and Muchono’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Chiredzi community, with parents demanding answers and improved safety measures at schools. Steadfast was enrolled in the Early Childhood Development class at Chiredzi Government Primary School.
Community in mourning, demands justice
Sources close to the family told our correspondent that Steadfast was a cheerful child who loved school. Her death has left relatives and neighbours devastated.
Commissioner Nyathi appealed to the public for assistance in locating Muchono.
“We are appealing to anyone with information on the whereabouts of Councillor Lovemore Muchono to come forward and assist police with our investigations,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has since classified the case as murder.
Previous incidents raise concerns
The case has reignited public concern over the safety of young children in school transport arrangements, particularly in rural areas where informal transport systems are common. Child rights organisations have called for urgent regulatory oversight of transport services used by schools.
Efforts to reach the Chiredzi Rural District Council for comment were unsuccessful. Muchono’s colleagues at the council have not issued any statement regarding his disappearance or the allegations against him.
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