Harare –Dzivarasekwa– A horrifying armed robbery over the weekend has left a Dzivarasekwa family shattered, following a violent home invasion that resulted in the death of a well-known kombi operator and left her husband seriously wounded.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when a gang of three machete-wielding robbers stormed the home of 34-year-old Forgive Tichareva and her husband, 35-year-old Shepherd Muchenje. The couple, who operate a fleet of commuter omnibuses in the capital, were asleep when the attackers broke into their bedroom.
According to police reports, the assailants were after the day’s earnings from the kombi business. It is believed that the gang had been monitoring the couple’s movements and targeted their home, knowing they would be in possession of large sums of cash. At the time of the attack, US$1,400 was in the house—money that was taken by the robbers after the brutal assault.
Harare Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the tragic incident and said investigations were underway to track down the perpetrators.
“Police are investigating a case of armed robbery and murder in Dzivarasekwa,” he said. “Three unknown assailants entered the house armed with machetes and attacked the couple while they were asleep.”
Inspector Chakanza explained that Shepherd attempted to defend his wife and himself by grabbing one of the machetes from an attacker, leading to a violent struggle inside the room. “The complainant grabbed the machete, and a fight ensued,” he said. “During the scuffle, the woman was struck multiple times, and her husband sustained serious injuries on the shoulder, back, and ankle.”
Dzivarasekwa Woman Killed in Brutal Machete Attack, Husband Seriously Injured in Home Invasion
Despite his injuries, Shepherd managed to briefly gain control of the weapon, but it was wrestled back by one of the attackers who then fled the scene with his accomplices into the darkness—taking the stolen money with them.
Forgive, however, had already sustained severe injuries. “She had deep wounds on her thigh, back, left upper arm, and right cheek,” Chakanza revealed.
Her husband rushed her to the hospital immediately after the gang fled, but sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted. Her body is now at the Parirenyatwa Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The violent nature of the attack has shocked residents of Dzivarasekwa, a densely populated suburb west of Harare, and has reignited fears about the growing number of machete-related crimes in urban areas.
Neighbours in Dzivarasekwa described the couple as hard-working entrepreneurs who had contributed meaningfully to the community by creating employment through their commuter omnibus business. “They were always busy with their kombis. Everyone knew them,” one resident said. “It’s heartbreaking. We are no longer safe even in our own homes.”
The attack is the latest in a series of machete gang crimes that have gripped parts of Zimbabwe, particularly in gold-mining towns but increasingly spreading into residential areas. Many of these gangs, often referred to as maShurugwi, are notorious for using brutal violence to carry out robberies, land grabs, and revenge attacks.
Law enforcement agencies have been under pressure to respond more decisively to these threats. In a recent briefing, police authorities pledged to increase patrols in hotspots and have appealed to the public for any information that may lead to the arrest of the Dzivarasekwa attackers.
“We urge residents with any knowledge of the suspects’ identities or whereabouts to report to the nearest police station,” said Inspector Chakanza. “We will not rest until justice is served.”
Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased and the local community are preparing for Forgive’s burial, even as they struggle to come to terms with the senseless violence that claimed her life.
“She didn’t deserve to die like this,” said a grieving family member. “She was a mother, a wife, and a pillar in the community.”
The incident stands as a grim reminder of the growing threat posed by violent criminal gangs in Zimbabwe, and the urgent need for stronger policing, community vigilance, and long-term strategies to curb the scourge of machete violence.
