By Dumisani Ndlovu
In a high-profile case that has rocked the Kwekwe community; two men have been sentenced to double life imprisonment for their involvement in the brutal murders of a respected educational figure and a young woman during a botched robbery in May 2023.
The High Court ruling, delivered by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, marks a significant moment in the fight against violent crime in the region and serves as a stern warning to would-be criminals.
The accused, Edson Matarise (22) and Innocent Maketo (27), were found guilty of premeditated murder after a thorough trial that revealed the chilling details of the crimes.Their accomplice, Edmore Mpande (28), was acquitted on both counts, leaving Matarise and Maketo to face the full weight of the law for their heinous actions.
The recent Gokwe High Court circuit heard that on the night of May 16, 2023, Mr. Lovemore Marume, a 64-year-old veteran educator, was returning home from a local tuck shop when he was confronted by the gang near Ruvimbo Primary School.Prosecutor Ms. Salome Mavunganidze detailed how Marume was ordered to surrender his belongings. When he resisted and attempted to defend himself, Matarise stabbed him multiple times, leaving him to bleed out in a pool of blood.
Witnesses reported that the gang had stolen Marume’s mobile phone, a wallet, and cash before fleeing the scene. The brutality didn’t end there.Shortly after the attack on Marume, Matarise and another accomplice encountered 38-year-old Ms. Chipo Gobiye.As she and a friend walked to a nearby shopping center, they became victims of the gang’s violent spree. Ms. Gobiye was chased down and stabbed multiple times in the back by Matarise, succumbing to her injuries moments later.
Both victims’ bodies were discovered the following morning, sending shockwaves through the Kwekwe community, which has been grappling with rising crime rates. Justice Kwenda, in his sentencing remarks, emphasized the premeditated nature of the crimes and the aggravating factors involved.He stated, “These murders were callous and deliberate. If the death penalty were still applicable, this case would have warranted it.”
The sentences reflect the court’s commitment to delivering justice and deterring future violent crimes.While Matarise and Maketo prepare to spend the rest of their lives behind bars, the search for their accomplices, Innocent Maketo and Caswell Dzingirai, continues. The tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the impact of crime on communities, underscoring the need for increased vigilance and community engagement in the fight against violence and lawlessness.
