He Wanted His Money Back, Inside The Mind Of The Sanyati Killer

The Post Reporter

In a dramatic twist of events, the arrest of a suspected police killer in Sanyati has led investigators to a major breakthrough in another high-profile case — the brutal murder of Ruwa businessman Joseph Mutangadura, who was shot dead at his home earlier this month.

According to police sources, ballistic evidence has linked the same firearm used in the Sanyati police station shooting to the weapon used in Mutangadura’s killing, suggesting that the two incidents may have been committed by the same suspect.

For weeks, Mutangadura’s murder had shaken the Ruwa community, sparking wild speculation and even allegations implicating his wife. His death had left friends, business associates, and neighbours in shock. The latest arrest has therefore been described by many as a “welcome development” that may finally shed light on the businessman’s untimely death.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, chaos erupted inside Sanyati Police Station when a gunman stormed the charge office and fatally shot an officer on duty.

The slain officer, Constable Courage Muchechesi, aged 32, was reportedly attending to a member of the public who had come to report an assault case when the assailant entered, armed with a pistol. According to an internal police memorandum seen by The Post On Sunday, the gunman demanded to know the whereabouts of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives who had earlier raided his home.

He also accused the detectives of stealing US$1,000 from him during the raid.

Witnesses say the suspect ordered both Muchechesi and the complainant to lie down. When Muchechesi reportedly tried to dash into an adjoining office, the gunman fired a single shot, hitting him in the stomach.

Despite being wounded, the officer staggered outside, shouting that he had been shot before collapsing near the single quarters. Fellow officers who rushed to the scene found him lying lifeless and bleeding heavily.

Police teams from Kadoma and Chegutu later attended the scene and recovered a spent cartridge near the charge office door.

Investigators now believe that the Sanyati gunman is also responsible for the murder of Ruwa businessman Joseph Mutangadura, who was killed under mysterious circumstances at his home. Sources close to the investigation say the same weapon recovered after the Sanyati incident matches ballistic evidence from the Ruwa crime scene.

In a video recorded shortly after the shooting, and now circulating among investigators, the suspect claims he attacked the police station to confront the officers who had “stolen” his money. He said his target was the CID detectives, but since they were not present, he turned his anger on Constable Muchechesi, who he accused of ignoring his command to lie down.

“I only wanted my US$1,000 back,” the suspect reportedly said in the recording. “Those detectives took my money. I didn’t mean to kill anyone.”

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident but declined to release further details.

“The suspect is in custody. The matter is under investigation, and we will release more information once preliminary findings are complete,” Nyathi told The Post On Sunday.

This incident has reignited public debate over the conduct of some members of Zimbabwe’s security services. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of citizens accusing police and military officers of robbery, extortion, and assault, often during raids or arrests.

In some cases, investigations have led to the arrest of serving security personnel, while in others, the victims’ complaints have gone unresolved. Civil rights advocates say such incidents erode public trust and create fear rather than safety in communities.

For now, the spotlight remains on the suspect, whose arrest could bring long-awaited answers in the Mutangadura case — and justice for Constable Muchechesi, the officer who lost his life in the line of duty.