MUTARE — Justice Isaac Muzenda of the Mutare High Court on Tuesday handed down lengthy prison sentences to two men convicted of murdering Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officer, Tapiwa Mutyasira (29), whose body was callously dumped along the Mutare-Harare railway line, where it was later run over and mutilated by a goods train.
Justice Muzenda sentenced Brighton Gowero (29) and Takunda Makoni (21) to 45 years in prison each, with no part of the sentence suspended, after finding the State had proven its case against them beyond reasonable doubt. Their co‑accused, Innocent Itai Chikwengo (38), was acquitted after the court ruled the prosecution had failed to establish his involvement in the crime.
The ruling follows a protracted trial that laid bare the brutal circumstances of Mutyasira’s death and the violent intent of his attackers.
The court heard that the murder took place between March 3 and 4, 2023, at the 13.5‑kilometre peg along the Mutare-Harare railway line in Chikanga. According to the prosecution, led by Mr. Malvern Musarurwa, the three men, acting in concert with an unidentified suspect still at large, ambushed Mutyasira in a premeditated attack.
The assailants allegedly used an unknown blunt object to assault Mutyasira, inflicting severe injuries that ultimately resulted in his death. After the attack, the perpetrators reportedly stole two of Mutyasira’s cellphones before callously dumping his body on the railway line. It was later discovered that a goods train had run over the body, further mutilating it.
“This was an act committed with the intent to kill, or at the very least in full knowledge that their actions could result in death,” Mr. Musarurwa told the court.
A post‑mortem examination conducted by Dr. Mellan Chibwowa at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital confirmed that Mutyasira died from polytrauma — multiple severe injuries consistent with a violent assault.
Mutare High Court Sentences Two Men to 45 Years for Brutal Murder of Prison Officer
Throughout the trial, several witnesses testified, directly linking Gowero and Makoni to the brutal killing. Justice Muzenda noted that the evidence presented was overwhelming and satisfied the requirements of proof beyond reasonable doubt under Section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), which criminalises unlawful and intentional killing.
However, the court found insufficient evidence to convict Chikwengo, leading to his acquittal.
Justice Muzenda remarked that the ages of the convicts had been considered in sentencing, but the severity of the crime warranted strict punishment. “They are fortunate not to have received a life sentence,” he said
Gowero and Makoni were each sentenced to 45 years in prison, without suspension of any portion of the sentence. Justice Muzenda emphasised that the brutality of the crime and its public impact demanded a firm judicial response to deter similar offences in the future.
The judgment brought a measure of relief to the late officer’s family, who had endured months of anguish and uncertainty. Mutyasira is survived by his wife and two young children. His father, who is also the Mutare District Area Prosecutor, Mr. Tirivanhu Mutyasira, expressed gratitude for the ruling.
“We have been following the trial, and it is true that two of them were convicted for 45 years, while the other was acquitted,” he said. “At least justice has been served, and the criminals’ conviction has brought closure to my grief‑stricken and struggling family.”
Mr. Mutyasira said the court’s decision had settled lingering doubts within the community about the circumstances of his son’s death. “There was a lot of confusion, as some were of the opinion that Tapiwa may have committed suicide. This conviction after a full trial has set the record straight, and we can now find closure as a family. It has been a traumatic experience,” he said.
Legal observers hailed the ruling as an important statement on the seriousness of violent crime and the integrity of the justice system. The case underscored the capacity of the judiciary to deliver justice even in complex, high‑profile matters involving multiple accused and significant public interest.
“This conviction sends a strong message that the courts will not tolerate violent crimes of this nature,” said a legal analyst following the judgment. “It reinforces the role of the justice system in protecting citizens and upholding the rule of law.”
The murder of Tapiwa Mutyasira shocked the Mutare community and the wider Zimbabwean public, not only because of the brutality involved but also because it involved a prison officer — a role associated with law enforcement and public safety. The case has drawn attention to the risks faced by law enforcement officers and the need for continued vigilance in protecting public servants.
As the two convicted men begin serving their sentences, the court’s decision stands as both a retribution for the heinous crime and a cautionary precedent for would‑be offenders. For the family of Tapiwa Mutyasira, it represents a painful but essential step towards closure.
Source- Herald
