63-year-old Rape Suspect Found Dead Hours After Report

A 63-year-old man from Zaka, Masvingo, who was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, was found dead, hanging from a tree on the same day the matter was reported to the police.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident and said Godfrey Chinguni of Chamunorwa Village under Chief Bota in Zaka was found hanging from a tree branch on 18 May 2026.

“We have a report of a man who was found hanging from a tree. He had allegedly been reported for raping a 14-year-old girl from Zaka on May 18, 2026, and the case was reported to Zaka police station,” said Inspector Dehwa.

Police said Chinguni’s wife left him at home at about 2 pm to visit neighbours.

Their 15-year-old son returned from school at about 4 pm and found the body hanging from a tree branch.

Villagers and neighbours were alerted, and police attended the scene.

In a separate incident, Shingirirai Makafara, 44, of Village 1D, Monyoroka in Triangle, who had been missing since 1 May 2026, was found hanging from a tree on 19 May by his 15-year-old son while the boy was looking for cattle at grazing lands.

Makafara had left home at about 6 am without telling anyone where he was going and did not return, prompting a missing person report at Triangle Police Station.

His body was found in a decomposed state and was taken to Chiredzi General Hospital for a post-mortem.

Inspector Dehwa said investigations were underway in the Zaka case, while no foul play was suspected in the Triangle incident.

He urged members of the public to share their problems and seek counselling from religious ministers, village heads and the Victim Friendly Unit.

“Members of the public are urged not to terminate their lives whenever they face difficulties, but to seek counselling from religious leaders, police officers, and Victim Friendly Unit members because life is important,” said Inspector Dhewa.