A 19-year-old mentally challenged teenager from Chivi has been arrested on
allegations of stoning his grandfather aged 81, to death.
The incident occurred in Huranda Village under Headman Chipindu.
Masvingo police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, confirmed the
incident, saying it happened on September 11 around 8pm.
He said the suspect of Huranda Village under Headman Chipindu stoned his
grandfather, Girison Chivasa, of Dzimati Village under Headman Matsveru in Chivi.
Chivasa was sitting outside with Berita Mawarire (70) when the teenager started
threatening them saying that he was going to kill someone.
The teenager is said to have been acting strange and was restless going up and
down the house. He is said to have started showing signs of mental illness last
month.
The teenager is said to have picked up a stone and hit his grandfather in the
abdomen, resulting in him falling down screaming for help.
Mawarire rushed to neighbours for help as Chivasa was at the mercy of his teenage
grandson.
On return, Mawarire and the other neighbours and found the teenager now, raging
holding an iron bar and threatening anyone who came close.
He later disappeared into the bush.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the teenage grandson,
while the deceased was taken to Chivi Hospital.
This is one of the many incidents of mentally ill patients murdering people in the
province during the past few months.
Police have urged relatives of people with mentally infirm patients to make sure they
take their medication.