Girl (3) skinned in ritual murder

A THREE-YEAR-OLD from Mutasa was found dead with missing body parts, a skinned face and a disjointed jaw after having been missing for eight days.

Deputy Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were in progress to ascertain how Natalie Manjiche was murdered.

"Natalie is from Mazimauya Village, under Chief Mutasa and she went missing on August 11.

"On the fateful day, Natalie in the company of Benevolent Mutasa (5) and Eustars Mutasa (9) went to Sakupwanya homestead where they had been sent to buy some vegetables.

"Along the way, Benevolent and Eustars left Natalie behind, complaining that she was slow. They proceeded to buy the vegetables and returned home using a different route without checking on the child. When they got home, they were asked where the child was and divulged that they had left her behind," said Asst Insp Chananda.

A search for Natalie was conducted, but in vain.

Her parents only made a police report for a missing person on August 17.

Natalie's body was discovered on August 19 by Nyasha Muchena (22) and Taurai Muparutsa (22) from Kupeta Village who were hunting in Nguwaya Mountain which is in Mazimauya Village.

The body had a slit on the throat, a missing tongue, eyes, ears and a disjointed lower jaw. Her face was also skinned and her clothes were found about 20 metres from the body.