Vongai Masuka

Two Mutare men, Brighton Gowere (29) and Takunda Makoni (21), have been sentenced to 45 years in prison each for the brutal murder and robbery of a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer, Tapiwa Mutyasira (29).

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Mutyasira’s body was discovered dumped on the Mutare-Harare railway line in Chikanga after the attack, an attempt by the assailants to conceal the crime.

“Between the 3rd of March and 4th of March 2023, the offenders, Brighton Gowero and Takunda Makoni, acting together with an accomplice identified only as Courage (currently on the run), brutally assaulted the now deceased with unknown objects, causing fatal injuries.” Reads the statement.

Following the assault, the trio stole Mutyasira’s two cellphones and then dumped his body on the railway line in an attempt to conceal the murder which was committed during the robbery.

The attempt to cover up the crime failed when Mutyasira’s remains were later run over by a goods train.

The NPAZ revealed that the post-mortem carried out at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital confirmed that the ZPCS officer’s death was violent, resulting from polytrauma, multiple injuries resulting from a violent attack.

“A postmortem carried out at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital confirmed that Mutyasira died from polytrauma -multiple injuries resulting from a violent attack.” Reads the statement.