By Desire Tshuma
Gokwe — A traditional leader and two police officers are among seven men remanded in custody in connection with the murder of a 72-year-old man in a chieftainship dispute in Nembudziya, Gokwe North.
Chief Chireya, whose real name is Henry Chidzivo, appeared before the Nembudziya Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
He joins six other accused persons who were remanded in custody a day earlier. They are Jethro Dymbura, Chenjerayi Chidzivo, Kelvin Panashe Musariri, Kasiyani Mudyachawaona, and Nembudziya-based police officers Moses Sibanda and Agent Chitsinde.
All seven are facing murder charges.
The State alleges that on the night of 13 October 2026, at around 8:30pm, the group travelled to the homestead of Tapson Jichidza, 72, in an Isuzu double-cab allegedly driven by Chief Chireya.
Prosecutors say the group was armed with axes, knobkerries, iron bars and wooden sticks. Officer Chitsinde is alleged to have been carrying an official FN service rifle with eight live rounds.
It is alleged that on arrival, an accomplice who is still at large switched off the vehicle’s lights before the group surrounded the homestead. Chitsinde is alleged to have ordered the occupants to lie on the ground.
The court heard that Dymbura allegedly struck the elderly man on the head with a knobkerry, while Chenjerayi Chidzivo allegedly threw him to the ground. Chitsinde allegedly then struck him with a rifle butt.
The prosecution further claims Chief Chireya instructed his accomplices to kill Jichidza, accusing the deceased of having stripped him of his chieftainship.
Jichidza lost consciousness and was allegedly moved to an unfinished building away from his family. Two relatives, Brighton Jichidza and Shelton Jichidza, were also assaulted during the incident.
Shelton Jichidza later found the victim’s body in a hut and reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrests.
The body was taken to Gokwe North District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The matter has been remanded in custody pending further court proceedings.