The Sunday News
A SUSPECTED murderer and rapist from Masvingo’s Chief Nyajena communal lands committed suicide by hanging while in police cells at Renco.
Masvingo police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula could neither confirm nor deny the incident when contacted for comment.
She referred this reporter to national police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi who said he was busy until time of going to print.
“I am busy at the moment with the passout parade. I will talk to you later,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
However, a police source said the incident happened on Wednesday last week at around 9pm.The deceased has been identified as Tichaona Mahachi (27) of Ruchicha Village.
Mahachi’s lifeless body was found in the cells by a Constable Jani who was doing regular checks at night.
“When Cst Jani visited the cells, he did a roll call of the inmates who were detained as per the norm but when he called Mahachi, who was in solitary confinement, he did not get any response. Cst Jani then went to call his senior, Inspector Mushava and together they went to the cells where they realised that Mahachi had committed suicide by hanging himself using a blanket strip that he had allegedly torn off,” said the source.
Mahachi was arrested in connection with a case of rape and attempted murder before being detained at Renco police cells. The case’s crime reference number is CR 3-4/12/14 (15/05/14) in the Detention Book number 78/14.
Mahachi committed suicide while waiting to appear in court for the alleged offences.
Allegations are that Mahachi would masquerade as a woman by putting on a dress and waylay his unsuspecting victims in the bush before raping them.
He committed the offence between the months of October and November in Chief Nyajena’s area and in one incident he allegedly brutally assaulted a woman belonging to Zaoga church before raping her once. The woman was left for dead and was rushed to the hospital by a passersby.
