Five suspects, including two police officers, have recently been brought to court on murder charges. They are accused of using electric cables and physical violence to force a confession from a woman whom they suspected of stealing $100.
The woman, Ruvimbo Kamugwala, tragically passed away just as three of the suspects were planning to take her to a prophet for help.
The names of the suspects mentioned in the court documents are Gerald Mupandawana Makore (38), Nicola Kadonzvo (28), Judith Mangando (45), Tafadzwa Gerald Madzima (22), and Tavonga Munoda (21).
They were charged with murder and appeared before the Norton Magistrates’ Court.
According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident took place on July 17, 2024, at Plot 26 in Parl, Selous.
Kamugwala was working at the home of the second accused person and allegedly stole $100, which led to the tragic events.
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The second accused person then teamed up with the first and third accused persons and began interrogating Kamugwala, assaulting her with switches, electric cables, and open hands.
The first and second accused persons then went to the local police base, where they met the fourth and fifth accused persons, who are police officers.
The fourth and fifth accused persons proceeded to assault the now-handcuffed Kamugwala with a baton stick.
While in custody, Kamugwala admitted to stealing the money and claimed to have given it to a friend, who denied the allegations.
She later stated that she had hidden the money at home, but a search yielded no results. The fourth and fifth accused persons further assaulted Kamugwala before leaving her in the custody of the first, second, and third accused persons.
Kamugwala died the following morning as the first and second accused persons were attempting to take her to consult a prophet.
The accused persons were remanded in custody until August 1, 2024, and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
