Zim woman murdered in SA

A 34-YEAR-OLD Masvingo woman was brutally killed at Tshikota village in Makhado town in Limpopo province, South Africa, in a suspected ritual murder, police said yesterday.

South African police spokesperson for Makhado, Captain Maano Sadiki said the incident occurred last month but however, the woman's body was only found in a bush last week in an advanced state of decomposition. He identified the now deceased as Rumbidzai Mayere. The body of the woman, who was last seen in the village towards the end of last month, had missing arms.

"Mayere who was a hawker was last seen on 21 March when she left her home carrying a blue bucket containing peanuts, which she intended to sell. We then launched investigations leading to the discovery of her mutilated and decomposing body in the bush on Monday last week and we suspect she could have been murdered for ritual purposes," he said.

Capt Sadiki said the body has since been taken to a local mortuary for a post mortem.

Capt Sadiki said they have since arrested a 38-year-old man linked to the murder. The suspect, Freddy Azwitamisi Tshikhudo of Thohoyandou appeared in the Louis Trichardt magistrates court on Friday and he was remanded in custody to 29 May pending bail application.