“Famous” Mumpande escape murder charge.

A 34-year-old mentally challenged man from Bhali community in Hwange rural areas under Chief
Nekatambe, who killed his uncle and cooked his body parts which included his hands and intestines,
escaped a murder charge.
Bulawayo High Court judge justice Maxwell Takuva who is on a circuit in Hwange said Wished
Mumpande (34) of Mubhora village under Chief Nekatambe was mentally ill when he murdered his
uncle in July last year.
“We are satisfied that when you committed an act of murder you were mentally challenged.
Accordingly, the court retains a special verdict and you have to be returned to prison for transfer to a
mental institution because you are very dangerous to society and if released you will harm citizens,” said
Justice Takuva.
The deceased Stephen Mumpande, who was 62 years old at the time of his death resided in
neighbouring Bhale village in the same area.
According to State Prosecutor, Martha Cheda the deceased had left home to tend to his maize crop
when he was killed by his nephew.
“On an unknown date but during the month of July 2022, the deceased left his homestead and went to
his field towards Gwayi River to guard the maize crop and did not return. On July 20 Mabone Sibanda
who was the deceased’s uncle went to the fields and found cattle feeding on the deceased’s maize crop
and alerted his wife Ms Beatina Nyoni.
“On 22 July Ms Nyoni and Given Mumpande proceeded to Gwayi River to search for the deceased and
were joined by Sibanda and Albert Mumpande. They came across a pair of bloodstained gumboots and
pair of formal trousers belonging to deceased,” said Cheda.
The court was told that the family continued searching and found chopped body parts including
intestines, both legs, head, arms, backbone and ribs hanging from tree branches. They also recovered a
pot with cooked human meat mixed with maize. The accused emerged from the bush carrying an axe
and they apprehended him and handed him to the police.