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Freedom Mupanedemo

Midlands Bureau

In a case that has shocked the Mberengwa community, a 24-year-old man allegedly killed his mother after attacking her with an unknown object, before burying the body in a shallow grave in the family vegetable garden.

After the heinous attack, Tymothy Zhou of Tasaranago Village under Chief Mataruse in Mberengwa, fled the scene and police have since launched a manhunt for him.

Zhou is assumed to be mentally ill. Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident.

“Circumstances are that the suspect, Tymothy Zhou, who is alleged to have been exhibiting some signs of mental illness, left home on the night of 24 August 2021 and went to the family garden which is about 1km from their homestead. He took with him some blankets and slept in the garden that night,” said Insp Mahoko.

The following morning, his mother Mrs Grace Zhou, went to the garden and on arrival, she was reportedly attacked by an unknown object. When her husband heard her screams from a distance, he dashed to the garden to investigate.

Insp Mahoko said when Mr Zhou, who was with some local villagers, arrived at the family garden they found Tymothy busy burying his already dead mother in a shallow grave that had just been dug in the garden.

“Upon seeing a group of people including his father, Tymothy fled,” he said.

Insp Mahoko said the matter was reported to the police at Buchwa.

“The scene was attended to and the body of the deceased woman was retrieved from the shallow grave before it was conveyed to Zvishavane District Hospital. 

“In the meantime, we appeal for information that may assist the police to arrest Tymothy Zhou who is still at large,” he said.