22 March 2022
Vimbayi Mahachi
A man from Marondera has been arrested for raping and killing his victims.
The Zimbabwe Republic have confirmed the arrest of Bright Zhantali on six counts of murder.
On the 15th of January afternoon Zhantali met Mercy Simairi (28) at Dejagger Bus Stop when she was on her way to Roughlands Farm.
Pretending to be a good Samaritan, he offered to accompany Simairi.
Upon arrival at Roughlands Farm, Zhantali tripped Simairi to the ground and raped her once without using protection. He then choked her using his bare hands until she lost consciousness. Zhantali then bashed the now unconscious Simairi with a boulder several times on the head until she died.
He then went on to bury the body in a shallow grave a few metres away and covered it with grass and shrubs.
He stole Simairi ‘s Techno cellphone, a Samsung handset all valued at $150-00 which was not recovered.
Days later, Zhantali pounced again, this time his victim was a prostitute, 40 year old Chipo Gwese from Tempest Bar in Hwedza.
Zhantali engaged Gwese for the night and the two went to Gwese’s home in Ndudzo Village. The Police state that Zhantali stayed in Gwese’s bedroom for the whole following day January 19.
On January 20, at around 2 a.m. Zhantali is alleged to have strangled Gwese as she slept. She was discovered with her hands tied to her back with shoe laces.
He went on to steal a phone, gas tank and US$111 in cash.
Zhantali then visited Dombotombo Township in Marondera where, on January 22 he approached another prostitute Betty Mlambo, 43, who was outside her home.
The two engaged each other for sex in Mlambo’s room.
In the early hours of the morning Zhantali strangled Mlambo while she was asleep, again he tied her hands with shoe laces from behind and covered the body in blankets before setting the room on fire.
The body was burnt beyond recognition.
Similarly Zhantali stole Mlambi’s phone and US$120, alleges the police.
Zhantali’s next victim was on February 7, a 44 year old Nelia Maringe who had told her neighbour that she was going for prayers before fetching firewood.
Zhantali was along Mutare-Harare highway when he spotted Maringe reading the Bible inside Grasslands Research Farm.
The police report says Zhantali proposed love to her but was rejected.
In frustration he raped her and then struck her once on the head with an axe she intended to use to chop firewood. She died instantly.
Police allege that Zhantali took a page from Maringe’s writing pad and wrote,
“Officers from CID Homicide read the whole of Proverbs 6 mutsiure vakadzi vanohura vari pamurume. Bye. Maringo from Maisiri paWedza.”
He is also allegedly to have scribbled a note addressed “To Husband.”
It said: “Mark of the best after math of chihure wakandirambirei this is just not manslaughter but a violent, brutal, toxic expression of love if not passion by ex-killer Maisiri paWedza.”
Zhantali allegedly stole the woman’s phone and disappeared.
In February Zhantali approached another sex worker aged between 35 and 40 at Chikaidos Bar, Nyameni Shops in Marondera.
The woman suggested that they go to Zhantali’s place since there was her younger sister at her own place.
Thus, Zhantali lied that lived nearby at Paradise Park and they agreed to go to his house.
On their way past Cherutombo High School, he suddenly grabbed her from the behind raped her and thereafter strangled her.
Police explain that Zhantali dragged the woman’s body and threw it into a river. The body was discovered some days later in a bad state of decomposition.
She has not been not identified.
Seated in a maize field on March 11 in the afternoon at Hunyani Estates near Marondera Golf Course Zhantali saw 61 year old Meggie Kaomba of Cherutombo fetching firewood.
He is alleged to have walked up to her, grabbed her from behind and raped her. He went on to strike the victim twice on the head with her own axe leading to her death.
Zhantali allegedly took the axe and went away.
Barely 24 hours later, police allege, Zhantali killed again. This time the victim was 49 year old Patricia Tsoka, a sex worker, who lived near the Chawatama industrial site.
The accused person has so far made indications that he is linked to all the above mentioned murder cases and other two unreported with one under count 7 in which efforts are underway to identify the victim whose body was found in an advanced state of decomposition.
He also indicated that there is another case he committed in Macheke and efforts are currently underway to locate the body.
The accused person has also indicated that he committed murders in Rusape, Mutare and Nyanga. The respective stations have since been advised.
All stolen property is still outstanding.
Investigations are in progress.
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