POLICE in the Midlands province have launched a manhunt for a 25-year-old man who fatally assaulted his grandmother over witchcraft allegations.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident that occurred last weekend in Marozva village under Chief Banga in Shurugwi.
“Police are investigating a case in which a 94-year-old woman was beaten to death by her grandson who accused her of witchcraft,” Mahoko said yesterday.
“The incident occurred on February 3 at about 8pm.
“On the day in question Esther Marozva (94) was at her homestead together with her son Chamunorwa Mugariri (50) and daughter-in-law Soneni Mpofu (36) when her grandson Takudzwa Mugariri arrived.”
Mahoko said Takudzwa accused his grandmother of bewitching him before burning her clothes.
Chamunorwa and Mpofu tried to refrain Takudzwa.
Chamunorwa went to his sister Dorcas Mugariri's homestead in Mujau village under Chief Banga to alert her.
While Chamunorwa was away Takudzwa chased away Mpofu from the homestead before he returned to assault his grandmother all over her body.
Mahoko said when Chamunorwa returned, he found Marozva's lifeless body in her bedroom leaning on a 50kg bag of maize while Takudzwa was in the same room seated on a bed.
He said Chamunorwa bolted out of the room and disappeared into darkness.
A report was made to the police and Marozva's body was ferried to Shurugwi district hospital mortuary.