Marondera – A convicted killer who was released from prison as a beneficiary of on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s amnesty, has been arrested for killing his father his time, highlighting the chilling consequences of releasing dangerous criminals back into society.
36-year-old Knowledge Kapesa was found guilty of killing his brother’s six-year-old son Tashinga Kapesa in 2016. He spent some time in prison before being granted presidential amnesty, a decision that would have devastating consequences, a development that his own father paid for with his dear life.
Last week, Kapesa was arrested for the cold-blooded murder of his own father, 76-year-old Emmanuel Kapesa. The convicted murderer is said to have killed his father following a dispute about sweet potatoes.
Sources in Marondera said Kapesa had a history of mental illness and violence. Just days before killing his father, he had stolen his father’s bananas and when his father confronted him about taking sweet potatoes, Kapesa then flew into a rage.
“He had stolen his father’s bananas the day before, and when his father confronted him about stealing sweet potatoes, he started beating him. When his father tried to run away, Knowledge picked up stones and hit him on the head, crushing his skull. His father died at the spot. It was a brutal and senseless act,” said Anastasia Chionerwa whio is Kapesa’s aunt.
Kapesa’s brother, Kesta Kapesa, also revealed that in 2013 his brother had vowed to kill their father as that would give him freedom.
“We thought it was a joke, but now we realise he was serious. He had a history of mental disturbance, but we never thought it would lead to this,” he said.
Kesta narrated to New Zimbabwe how Kapesa brutally murdered the six-year-old boy named Tashinga back in 2016.
“He lied to Tashinga, saying they were going to fetch maize, but instead, he tied him with a rope and threw him into the water and he drowned. The next day, divers recovered Tashinga’s lifeless body, a heart-wrenching discovery that would haunt the family forever.”
Much to everyone’s shock, Kapesa was granted presidential amnesty despite his proven violent past. This is a decision that Kesta and many other family members say was a very big mistake in judgement.
“We were shocked when he was released. We had reported his threats to Marondera police, but they said there was no space at the mental health facility. We knew he was a danger to society, but our warnings fell on deaf ears,” he added.
Kapesa’s elder aunt – Judith Kahwemba – echoed the family’s concerns and urged the government to exercise stricter vetting of offenders before releasing them from prisons.
“Murderers should not be released; they are a threat to society,” she said.
