Widow jailed 27 years for premeditated murder

Bridget Makaza, widow of Kurai Coaches director MaCloud Zvavovaviri Mapanga, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for the premeditated murder of her husband at their Belvedere home in Harare in 2018.

Makaza was convicted last week by the High Court, with Justice Emilia Muchawa ruling that overwhelming evidence showed she meticulously planned and executed the killing, staging a fake armed robbery to conceal her crime.

Court proceedings revealed that on the early morning of May 14, 2018, Makaza shot Mapanga three times while he slept, using a .38 Amadeo Rossi revolver with erased serial numbers. One bullet struck his right shoulder, another hit above the left shoulder, and a third grazed his neck before penetrating the right shoulder.

After the attack, Makaza attempted to cover up the murder by claiming that armed robbers had broken into their home, shot Mapanga, and stolen US$12,000. She disposed of the firearm and latex gloves at a swampy area, then reported the alleged robbery at Mabelreign Police Station.

Police investigations quickly exposed inconsistencies in her story. Detectives found no forced entry, and ballistic tests confirmed that the bullets matched the firearm she had attempted to conceal. Makaza had purchased the gun during a trip to South Africa on May 2, 2018, and later fled to the United Kingdom after being granted bail, returning to Zimbabwe in December 2024, when she was re-arrested.

A post-mortem report confirmed that Mapanga died from traumatic shock and gunshot-induced ruptures to his lungs and liver.

In her defence, Makaza claimed she had suffered years of abuse from her husband and alleged that the shooting was accidental during a struggle. She also denied purchasing the firearm and alleged her confession was extracted under duress.

Justice Muchawa rejected Makaza's claims, stating that the evidence clearly demonstrated premeditation and deliberate intent to kill.

"Our findings are that the accused person planned to execute the deceased," the judge said. "She travelled to South Africa to procure the murder weapon, smuggled it back to Zimbabwe, and waited for the right moment to strike."

The judge added that Makaza executed her plan in the early hours of May 14, 2018, aiming at the upper body of her sleeping husband. She then staged a robbery, left him seriously injured without seeking medical help, and attempted to sanitise her actions by reporting the false crime to police while disposing of evidence.

Justice Muchawa concluded:

"The conduct of the accused before, during, and after the murder led us to unequivocally conclude that the accused unlawfully and with intent to kill, shot MaCloud Zvavovaviri Mapanga."

Makaza's sentence of 27 years reflects the gravity and premeditated nature of her crime.