MASVINGO – Three villagers from Bikita, Masvingo province, have been arrested for the alleged murder of a four-year-old girl who died after eating poisoned rice.
The suspects — Violet Gamera, 60, Chamunorwa Kwanga, 60, and Regina Tavengerarwei, 30 — are accused of poisoning Sabina Maziva as revenge after her family’s goats destroyed their crops.
The incident occurred on October 1, 2025, at Mandinyenya Village.
National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “Initial investigations reveal that on October 1, 2025, Violet Gamera allegedly gave the victim poisoned rice as an act of revenge against the child’s parents, whose goats had previously destroyed her crops.”
The girl reportedly began vomiting soon after eating the rice and was taken to a local clinic for treatment. Her condition deteriorated, and she died on October 5.
She was buried three days later, but suspicions of foul play arose during the burial on October 8, prompting villagers to alert Chief Ziki, who instructed the family to report the matter to the police.
Police investigations led to Gamera’s arrest. She allegedly implicated Kwanga as the person who advised her to poison the child and named Tavengerarwei as the supplier of the poison.
Officers recovered rat poison and a liquid substance suspected to be a cotton pesticide, both believed to have been used in the killing.
The child’s body was exhumed and taken to Silveira Mission Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
Commissioner Nyathi said police “strongly condemn criminal acts and cruelty in society, especially those that endanger the lives of innocent children,” urging the public to resolve disputes peacefully and within the law.
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