Gweru – A Shurugwi man, Emmanuel Mahembe, has been found guilty of two counts of murder and related theft charges following a trial at the High Court in Gweru.
The 37-year-old was convicted for the brutal killings of two girlfriends in 2021, after which he stole their vehicles and other possessions.
The court heard harrowing details of Mahembe’s predatory behaviour, revealing a pattern of luring unsuspecting rich women into relationships before murdering them. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) outlined the chilling circumstances surrounding each death.
In the first incident, between August 2021 and September 2021, Mahembe met a 37-year-old woman at Donga, Chachacha Business Centre in Shurugwi.
“The two drove the now deceased’s motor vehicle, a Honda Fit, to Dhanga dip tank where the accused person murdered the deceased,” the NPAZ statement detailed.
“He wrapped the body in a blanket and buried it along Gwamamvura Riverbed before driving off in her motor vehicle. He later sold the motor vehicle.”
The second murder occurred on May 22, 2021. Mahembe, again employing a similar tactic, met a 35-year-old woman and they drove to her sister’s home in Shurugwi.
“Along the way, the two had a misunderstanding over money. The argument escalated and the accused person murdered the deceased and dumped the body in a disused mine shaft at Mutevekwi Bridge,” the NPAZ explained.
The NPAZ statement continued, highlighting the depravity of Mahembe’s actions: “After killing the deceased, the accused wickedly impersonated the deceased and preyed on her son’s emotional vulnerability and cunningly convinced him to send money to the deceased’s Ecocash account, which money he diverted to personal use. He also continued driving around in the deceased’s motor vehicle, a Honda Fit.”
The case came to light when relatives of the second victim became suspicious of her sudden disappearance and the unusual requests for money coming from her mobile phone. Their concerns prompted them to alert the police, triggering an investigation that ultimately led to Mahembe’s arrest.
The details of the investigation, as reported in July 2022, paint a clearer picture of the events leading up to Mahembe’s apprehension. Police in Shurugwi had been investigating a series of incidents involving the deaths of single businesswomen who had been in relationships with Mahembe.
He was apprehended at Chachacha growth point in Shurugwi following a police trap. At the time of his initial remand, he faced two counts of murder and two counts of theft.
The court heard testimony detailing the events surrounding the murder of Patricia Mutero. Between August and September 2021, Mahembe invited Ms Mutero to Chachacha business centre.
They spent the night drinking beer, and the following day, after a request for intimacy, they drove to Dhonga dip tank. Ms Mutero fell asleep in the car, and Mahembe strangled her. He then transported her body to Gwamvurachena River, buried her, and subsequently sold her Honda Fit vehicle.
Similarly, the court heard evidence regarding the murder of Idah Chigumbate in May 2021. Mahembe and Ms Chigumbate met at Chachacha growth point, and after a night of drinking, an argument erupted over money Mahembe owed her. The altercation escalated into violence, resulting in Ms Chigumbate’s death.
Mahembe disposed of her body in a mine shaft near Mutevekwi River, and he used her phone to defraud her son of money and contact her relatives. Ms Chigumbate’s remains were recovered on July 19, 2022.
The suspicious activity on Ms Chigumbate’s phone, coupled with her sudden disappearance, prompted her son to report his concerns to the police. This ultimately led to the setting of a trap at Chachacha growth point, resulting in Mahembe’s arrest.
Mahembe is scheduled to appear in court this Friday for sentencing.
