Johnson Progress

Police have launched a manhunt for a suspect accused of murdering a woman and her two young children before setting ablaze the hut where their bodies were dumped at Shirleigh Farm in Darwendale.

The gruesome discovery was made on 13 September 2026, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed in a statement.

The victims have been identified as Abigail Mwale, 26, her five-year-old child Johanne Maiswa, and her seven-month-old baby, Jayden Mwale.

According to police, the suspect allegedly killed the three victims before dragging their bodies into a hut, locking it from the outside and setting it on fire in what investigators believe was an attempt to destroy evidence.

“The suspect allegedly dragged the bodies into a hut, locked it from the outside and subsequently set the hut on fire,” the police statement reads.

The motive behind the killings remains unclear and no arrests have been made. The suspect is still at large.

Police said they recovered several items from the scene, including a blood-stained white cloth, a white sack and a pair of socks. The exhibits are expected to assist detectives as they piece together the events leading to the murders.

The bodies were taken to Father O’Hea Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem examinations.

The murders have sent shockwaves through the farming community of Darwendale in Mashonaland West, with residents expressing fear and disbelief over the killing of a mother and her two young children.

“We are shocked. How can someone do this to a mother and her innocent children? We hope the police catch whoever did this,”  said a community member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police have appealed to members of the public for information.

“Anyone with information to report at any nearest police station or contact the National Complaints Desk on 0242 703631 or via WhatsApp on 0712 800 197,” police said.

The killings come amid growing concern over violent crime in Zimbabwe’s farming communities, where murder and assault cases have been reported in recent months.

No funeral arrangements have been announced as the family awaits post-mortem results. Police have not ruled out the possibility that the attacker was known to the victims.