Wednesday, January 15

Mhondi Dzakauraya Tapiwa Makore Dzopunyuka

THE two men who killed seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore, a Bulawayo serial killer with model looks who murdered his two friends, and two relatives who conspired to kill a taxi driver, are part of the group of 48 inmates who were on death row who have escaped the hangman’s noose.

Tapiwa Makore Senior and Tafadzwa Shamba were convicted for killing seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore.

Rodney Tongai Jindu killed his two friends and was condemned to death for their murder which was done to obtain body parts for a ritual ceremony.

President Mnangagwa signed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill into law.

It brought to an end capital punishment in this country which has carried out 105 executions since Independence.

However, no death row prisoner has been executed since July 2005.

Our sister newspaper, The Sunday Mail, this week revealed that resentencing of the 48 convicts, who were on death row before the abolition of the death penalty, is expected to start during the first quarter of this year.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Vimbai Nyemba said her ministry was consulting with other stakeholders.

“Please be advised that the processes for resentencing are anticipated to commence before the end of the first quarter of the year.

“The Ministry is in the process of consulting relevant stakeholders, including the Judicial Service Commission and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), to ensure a smooth transition.”

 

TAFADZWA SHAMBA AND TAPIWA MAKORE SNR

Shamba and Makore Snr’s case was a high-profile one and the duo was found guilty of the murder of seven-year-old Tapiwa Makore.

High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, sitting with assessors Mr Chakuvinga and Ms Chitsiga, sentenced the duo to death ruling that the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances.

“Both accused shall be returned to custody and that the sentence of death be executed upon each of them according to law,” said Justice Mutevedzi.

“They approached their task to kill the boy with animated fixation of a predator.

“Anyone acquainted with how the events leading to the death of the deceased were reconstructed during this trial would be forgiven to make the conclusion that the two accused are men who were born in violence, raised in it and were hardened by it.

“In this case, the accused persons heavily drugged the deceased with home brewed illicit beer.

“He became completely sedated, both accused must have been aware of the brew’s toxicity and potency particularly on a seven-year-old. In reality they poisoned him into a comatose state of drunkenness.

“The demon which drove Shamba and Makore to commit this murder is relentless and could not be stopped. It can only be neutralised by death.”

Shamba was guilty of murdering the boy while Makore Snr was ab accomplice to the murder.

RODNEY TONGAI JINDU

Rodney Tongai Jindu murdered his two friends and was in August 2018 convicted of murder with actual intent by Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo.

He murdered Mboneli Joko Ncube and Cyprian Kudzurunga.

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