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Midlands Correspondent
Police in Gokwe are investigating the murder of an 88-year-old woman who was allegedly axed by her son, who accused her of witchcraft. It is believed that on April 2, 2018 at around 6.30am, the deceased, Shingirai Chifamba, of Madanyika Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe South, went to her fields together with her two children Sabina Chifamba (30) and Timothy Chifamba (21).

At around 9.30am, Shingirai decided to take a break and headed home.
Sabina and Timothy later followed her and upon arriving home, they saw the accused, John Chifamba, who was armed with an axe, force-marching their mother from a nearby bush into the yard.

When Sabina tried to intervene to prevent the accused from shoving their mother around, she was struck once on the forehead with the axe, and she retreated.

An enraged John then turned on his mother and struck her several times all over her body in full view of his siblings.
She subsequently collapsed and became unconscious.
The two siblings managed to flee and seek refuge at their neighbour’s homestead.

The suspect ran after them and managed to catch up with Sabina.
He tried to attack her, but he was disarmed by a woman from the same village.
During the scuffle, John managed to pick up a stone from and repeatedly attacked Sabina on the head, accusing her and their mother of being witches.
He later fled the scene.
A police report was made at Gokwe Police Station leading to John’s arrest.
After Shingirai succumbed to her injuries, she was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary for a post- mortem.
Midlands acting community relations liaison officer Inspector Ethel Mukwende appealed to members of the public to solve their disputes amicably and desist from violence.