Peter Dube convicted, awaits sentencing

After evading capture for nearly four years across Southern Africa and Europe, fugitive murder accused Peter Dube has been convicted of two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder by the Bulawayo High Court. He now awaits sentencing following a scathing ruling by Justice Munamato Mutevedzi.

The court found that Dube unleashed "unmitigated violence" on April 22, 2021, fatally shooting Shelton Chiduku and Gamuchirai Madungwe, and seriously injuring sisters Nyasha and Nyaradzo Nharingo. Nyaradzo later died from complications, a fact the judge said raised serious questions about why prosecutors did not add a third murder charge.

Justice Mutevedzi dismissed Dube's insanity defence as malingering, saying it was calculated, unsupported, and contradicted by expert psychiatric testimony. State psychiatrist Dr Nemache Mawere testified that Dube was "play-acting" and deliberately evasive.

The court also detailed Dube's elaborate escape: fleeing Gweru the same night with help from his senior wife Nomatter Chawana, crossing into South Africa, moving through Eswatini, acquiring a fake Mozambican identity, and eventually flying to Ireland where he lived undetected until his cover collapsed. He was deported to Mozambique, then Zimbabwe.

Justice Mutevedzi criticised law-enforcement gaps, including the failure to question Chawana for aiding his escape.

Finding the killings deliberate and executed "with chilling calm," the court convicted Dube on all four charges. Sentencing is pending.