Kwekwe man sentenced to life imprisonment for brutal axe murder, rape of aunt
By Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru, Zimbabwe – In a chilling verdict delivered at the Gweru High Court, 21-year-old Tapiwa Merekaof Kwekwe has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the horrific murder and rape of his aunt, Mary Mureka.
The crime, committed in January 2023 when Tapiwa was 19, involved a brutal axe attack that resulted in the victim’s death.
The court heard harrowing details of the incident, which occurred at Plot Number 61 Maywood, Kwekwe, where both Tapiwa and his aunt resided. According to the prosecution, led by Batanai Mathose, Tapiwa and his aunt were weeding in a maize field when he suddenly turned on her. Without warning, he struck Mary Merekamultiple times with an axe. The initial blow landed on the back of her head, felling her to the ground. Tapiwa then continued his brutal assault, striking her on the left side of the head and above her right eye. Mary Merekabled profusely and died at the scene.
A medical examination revealed the cause of death to be subdural hematoma, cranial trauma, and assault. After the gruesome act, Tapiwa attempted to conceal the crime by throwing the axe into a nearby thicket before fleeing to the Sebakwe River.
The victim’s body was discovered by Winnie Mureka, Tapiwa’s grandmother and the deceased’s mother. Winnie, alerted Theresa Chimuka, who in turn informed Daniel Sithole. Sithole then reported the incident to the police, leading to the recovery of the body and subsequent investigation. Doctor Lydia Mutandavari certified Mary Merekadead at Kwekwe General Hospital. A post-mortem examination, conducted by Doctor Juana Rodriguez Gregori, corroborated the initial assessment of the cause of death.
Judge Munamato Mutevedzi presided over the case and delivered a scathing condemnation of Tapiwa’s actions during sentencing. “Tapiwa has a head, but I doubt if in his head there is something in it,” Judge Mutevedzi stated, expressing his shock and disgust at the brutality of the crime. “If the manner in which he committed the crime was a movie, he would have won the Oscar awards for his horror movie.”
The Judge further emphasized the need for judges and court officials involved in such disturbing cases to receive therapy to address potential vicarious trauma. He highlighted the multiplicity of aggravating circumstances surrounding the crime, stating that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the murder was committed with extreme cruelty.
The case took an even darker turn during cross-examination when Tapiwa admitted to raping his aunt after the initial axe attack, while she was struggling for her life. This revelation further cemented the court’s view of the depravity of the crime: The addition of the rape charge significantly influenced the severity of the sentence, highlighting the court’s intolerance for sexual violence in conjunction with murder cases.
Even in his initial warning and caution statement, Tapiwa reportedly confessed to harboring lustful feelings for the deceased and a desire for her death. Judge Mutevedzi, deeply disturbed by Tapiwa’s confession, declared that he did not deserve to be among human beings and should be permanently removed from society to “rot in the walls of prison.”
Winnie Mureka, the grandmother of the accused and mother of the deceased, provided crucial testimony during the trial. She recounted how, on the day of the murder, she had given Tapiwa money to buy maize. Mary Merekathen proceeded to the field for weeding, followed later by Tapiwa. When Winnie called out to them and received no response, she went to investigate and discovered her daughter’s lifeless body.
Lovemore Mereka also testified, detailing the events that transpired after Winnie’s discovery. The court’s decision rested on a comprehensive evaluation of the evidence, including the post-mortem report, witness testimonies, and Tapiwa’s own admissions.
The court heavily praised prosecutor Batanai Mathose for his diligence in presenting a compelling case that proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the crime was committed with multiple aggravating factors.
