Zimbabwe man beheads son in grisly axe attack

In a shocking incident that has left the Buhera community in Manicaland province reeling, a 32-year-old man brutally killed his teenage son in an unprovoked axe attack. The gruesome murder saw the boy's head severed from his body, with the assailant striking him repeatedly until he succumbed to his injuries.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of the suspect, Tawanda Magoso, of Daakoni Village in Buhera. National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, provided details of the horrific event.

"The ZRP reports that Tawanda Magoso (32) was arrested in connection with a case of murder which occurred at his house in Daakoni Village, Buhera, on January 10, 2025, in which his son, Taonga Magoso (11), died," Nyathi said.

Nyathi revealed that the suspect returned home from a shrine, where he had gone for prayers, before launching the attack. Armed with an axe retrieved from his bedroom, Magoso struck his son indiscriminately.

"The suspect took an axe and struck the victim indiscriminately all over the body. The victim's head separated from its torso, and he sustained multiple injuries on the back. Resultantly, the victim succumbed to the injuries," Nyathi explained.

Community members played a crucial role in apprehending the suspect. He was detained and handed over to the police.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage and grief in the local community, with residents expressing disbelief over the unprovoked act of violence. Investigations into the case are ongoing as the authorities seek to uncover the motive behind the attack.