An 18-year-old man from Gweru sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court of Zimbabwe on 19 May 2026 for the murder of his workmate following a dispute in Kwekwe.
Tapiwa Mahara, who was unemployed and lived in Rugare Village under Chief Chiundura, was convicted of murdering Kudakwashe Mhlanga.
The court heard that on 4 December 2025, Mahara went to Plot 4 West Court in Kwekwe armed with a metal rod looking for Mhlanga.
“The offender went to Plot 4 West Court, Kwekwe, armed with a metal rod searching for the now deceased, who was employed at Chidumo Mine. The two were workmates and lived in the same locality,” the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe stated.
Prosecutors said the attack stemmed from an earlier altercation over a torn T-shirt and allegations that Mhlanga had struck Mahara with a brick. Witnesses testified that Mahara had threatened to ambush Mhlanga.
Later that night, Mahara entered the kitchen where Mhlanga was sleeping and stabbed him once on the left side of the chest with a kitchen knife before fleeing. Mhlanga staggered out bleeding and collapsed.
“A witness positively identified the offender as he fled from the kitchen. Moments later, the deceased staggered out bleeding profusely before collapsing.
“A post-mortem concluded that the cause of death was haemorrhagic shock, lung laceration, haemothorax, and a stab wound to the chest,” the NPA said.
