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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent

A gold panner, who was on the run after raping a woman and killing her, has appeared before the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court.

Tafadzwa Nkonde (33) was facing murder charges as defined in Section 47 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

He was remanded in custody to September 18, 2024. Allegations are that on August 30, 2024, Nkonde approached Nokuthula Mazivisa who was walking to her garden in Dandadale area of Chinhoyi, and offered US$5 to have sex with her.

Mazivisa refused to entertain Nkonde which did not go down well with him. Nkonde grabbed her by the neck from behind and dragged her into the bushes where he raped her once.

After raping her, Nkonde took a bottle of pesticide that was in the Mazivisa’s handbag and shoved the contents down her throat before disappearing into a nearby bush.

Passersby heard her groaning and went to investigate.

Nkonde reappeared on the scene and was positively identified by Mazivisa who narrated her ordeal to the people who had come to her rescue.

She was rushed to hospital where she died upon admission.