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Crime Reporter

A police officer was found dead at a shopping centre in Bulawayo in what is suspected to be a murder case, while a body of a foreigner was also found along the Harare-Chirundu Road over the weekend.

Police have since launched investigations into the two suspected murder cases and are appealing for anyone with information to contact any nearest police station.

The body of the police officer was found with some injuries on the back of the head and mouth.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the two incidents.

“The ZRP is investigating a case of murder where a police officer was found dead at Eyethu Shops, Makoni Shopping Centre, Bulawayo on December 4, 2021 at around 0130 hours.

“The body had serious injuries on the back of the head, right side and on the mouth. Anyone with information should contact any nearest police station,” he said.

Police were also investigating the death of a foreign national whose body was found near Makuti last Friday.

The body was lying on its back facing upwards along the road with hands tied with a shoe lace on the front by the stomach.

“Bruises were noted on the neck, stomach, back and left foot. There were some blisters forming maggots on the back. Police suspect transnational criminal activities as two small papers with South African and Zambian cellphone numbers were recovered while the body appeared to be that of an Ethiopian or Somali national,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.

Meanwhile, police are looking for three self-styled prophets, one of them known as “Kiss”, in connection with the death of Zekela Muleya (72) at Donga Village in Binga last Friday after the suspects alleged that she was a witch.

They shaved the victim’s hair, cut her with a razor blade before administering unknown concoctions on the wounds and forcing her to drink the substances.

Police also arrested of Thokozani Ncube in connection with the murder of Martin Sibanda (22) at Lyn Mine, Filabusi on December 1.

The suspect who is a security guard at the premises confronted the victim together with Lameson Bhanditi as the deceased came out of a mine shaft and shot him once on right knee. The victim fell into mine shaft which is about six metres deep and died. Police recovered 50kgs of gold ore near the mine shaft, catapults in the victim’s pair of shorts, a machete belonging to the victim and the shotgun belonging to the mine owner.