VILLAGERS in Mashava were left shell-shocked last week after a prominent Great
Zimbabwe University (GZU) student, Tatenda Mhunga, was found dead in his room
on campus.
Mhunga, who was also a musician, rose to fame at the Mashava campus and his
home town, Gwanda, by playing guitar and mbira at both public and private
gatherings.
Masvingo Police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, confirmed the
incident and said the body had a deep cut on the throat, a cut on the left wrist, a
small cut on the left bicep and a small cut on the left side of the waist.
He said on September 20 around 8 pm Mhunga (28) was at Gaths Mine clubhouse
basketball court in the company of Daniel Zinyemba (29), and Kudakwashe
Chikwature (63) of Village 1 Gaths Mine Mashava when he allegedly started
shaking and hallucinating.
Chikwature and Zinyemba took him back to his room and around 12 pm Zinyemba
went to Mhunga’s room to check on him and found him throwing books and kitchen
utensils all over the room.
“Zinyemba was able to calm him down.
“On September 21 around 5am, Zinyemba went to check on Mhunga and found him
dead under his bed with blood stains all over the body, on the floor and the walls.
The police found a small sharp point plank with stains, a small table knife, a sharp
glass piece, and a metal curtain rod.
The body was taken to Masvingo General Hospital and investigations are in
progress.
Mhunga was a second year student pursuing a Musicology degree and everyone
thought he was destined, for greater heights in the showbiz sector.
A GZU student, who spoke to Masvingo Star said Mhunga had a passion for music
and was a multi-talented person in the entertainment industry.
He was a guitarist and he would play drums, mbira, and even sing. He mainly loved
Jazz music. He was a loving person who would occasionally greet people and start
to play his guitar in an open space. Mhunga was polishing his artwork which he
wanted to deliver on graduation day.
I will forever remember him for his trademark Sisonke mntaka Mama (We are
together my brother). Am quite sure that his artwork will console his bereaving
family. Last week he kept congregants on their feet when he delivered his artwork
during a church conference held in Masvingo Town, he said.