‘Untouchable’ Bla Matsotsi: Chitungwiza’s Most Feared Man Back Behind Bars — For Now

Fear and frustration grip residents of St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, as a man known only as Bla Matsotsi continues to evade justice despite a long trail of alleged crimes ranging from robbery and theft to violent assaults.

Locals say the notorious figure has terrorised the community for years, with many questioning how he repeatedly secures bail despite facing more than 50 criminal charges.

Bla Matsotsi’s notoriety reached new heights after a dramatic confrontation with police in which a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) special unit had to be deployed to apprehend him.

According to witnesses who spoke on Star FM with Tilda Moyo, he overpowered local officers, injuring several during the scuffle before being subdued.

“He fights the police like he is not human. They had to call in a team from Harare to capture him,” said one of the residents.

Bla Matsotsi has been released multiple times after similar arrests. Residents allege that each time he is detained, his family conducts all-night traditional ceremonies, locally known as biras, involving beer brewing and rituals believed to protect him from prosecution.

“When he gets arrested, his relatives spend the night performing rituals. After a few days, he is released, and the person who reported him is never even called to court,” the resident added.

In one bizarre incident, police officers reportedly raided his home after receiving a tip-off that he was hiding inside. Witnesses claim that moments before police entered, a dog calmly walked out of the room, and when officers went in, Bla Matsotsi had vanished.

The mysterious disappearance has fuelled speculation that the suspect may be using supernatural means to evade arrest  a belief that has divided the community between those who blame corruption and those convinced of witchcraft.

Now, Bla Matsotsi has once again been arrested, this time for allegedly stabbing a pregnant woman while attempting to steal her cellphone. The victim survived the attack and managed to file a report leading to his latest detention.

“We have lost faith in the system. Whether it’s corruption or something spiritual, one thing is clear  we are not safe,” another resident added.