Harare’s usually bustling Dzivaresekwa Extension, known locally as “Bakosi”, has fallen eerily silent, its vibrant spirit subdued by a chilling discovery that has sent tremors through the community. The discovery of a human skull, carried to two separate homes by a stray dog, has left residents grappling with a mix of fear, confusion, and a sense of profound unease.
The macabre find, which occurred last Friday, has cast a dark shadow over the neighbourhood, raising unsettling questions about the fate of the individual, believed to be a child, and the circumstances surrounding their death. The skull, described as being in a fresh state, bears the stark marks of a deliberate removal from the body, fuelling suspicions of foul play and sending shivers down the spines of those who have witnessed the grim spectacle.
The dog, a stray named Splot, belonging to Felistous Nyoka, a resident of number 5199, is at the centre of this chilling tale. It was Splot who first carried the skull to Nyoka’s home, leaving the family in a state of shock and disbelief. The dog then, for reasons unknown, carried the skull to the nearby home of Constance Gwese, a neighbour who lives across the street.
“I had just finished sweeping my yard and was about to go to the bathroom when I was startled by the dog,” Gwese recounted, her voice trembling slightly. “I was shocked to see it carrying a human skull. I chased it away, and it dropped the skull near my bathroom. I covered it with a dish and immediately went to Nyoka’s home, where her daughter-in-law confirmed it was indeed a human skull.”
The discovery sent a wave of unease through the neighbourhood, with whispers of a sinister act spreading like wildfire. The skull, according to Gwese, bore the unmistakable signs of a violent act. “It had red soil on it, a hole drilled into the side, and the brain was missing,” she said, her voice laced with a mixture of horror and disbelief. “This suggests foul play. The skull wasn’t decaying, meaning the person died recently. We don’t know how they died, but it looks like a child was murdered because no body has been found. We don’t know where the dog got the skull.”
The discovery has left the residents in a state of bewilderment, struggling to comprehend the events that led to the skull’s appearance in their neighbourhood. The absence of a body, coupled with the deliberate nature of the skull’s removal, has fuelled speculation and heightened anxieties.
“Traditionally, this suggests the dog didn’t want to attack the body, and it may be left far away from our homes,” Gwese said, her voice tinged with a sense of foreboding. “I have cleansed my entire yard with a cleansing herb to ward off the spirit of the deceased, but we hope the perpetrators will be caught because the spirit of a person will not rest.”
Nyoka, who was initially in disbelief, confirmed the gruesome discovery, her voice heavy with a sense of unease. “I returned home and was shocked to see the skull,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “I noticed it was clean, all the blood had been washed off, and it only had red soil on it. This means the skull was placed somewhere else before the dog found it. It didn’t have a neck, and it was neatly cut. This is a serious matter, and we are waiting for the police to investigate.”
The skull, she added, had a hole where the brain was removed. “It had ears, a mouth, and a nose,” she said, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow. “This was done by heartless people.”
The discovery has left Nyoka grappling with the unsettling reality of the situation, unsure of how to deal with the dog, Splot, who is now seen as a symbol of the tragedy. “The dog that was found with the skull is mine, named Splot. I have it here, and I don’t know what to do with it,” she said, her voice laced with a sense of helplessness. “I can’t kill it. Some people say it needs to be given traditional medicine to cleanse it of the deceased’s spirit. I don’t know where it got the skull.”
Nyoka has sought the help of a pastor from her church to address the incident, hoping for spiritual guidance in this time of uncertainty.
The incident has also left Nyoka’s daughter-in-law, Nyasha Gorera, deeply disturbed. “We are terrified by this incident because we don’t know how this person died,” she said, her voice filled with a sense of unease. “We are now afraid for our children. It is strange that the skull was so fresh, maybe it was kept in a refrigerator. The children who saw this are now traumatized.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents expressing their fear and concern for the safety of their children. The police, under the leadership of Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, have confirmed the incident and have launched a full investigation to uncover the truth behind the gruesome discovery.
“Let me investigate this matter fully so we can get to the bottom of what happened,” said Insp Chakanza, his voice firm and determined.
The investigation is expected to be a complex one, with the police facing the daunting task of piecing together the events that led to the skull’s appearance in the neighbourhood.
