HARARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned against fraudulent donation drives launched in the wake of the Kuwadzana Extension children’s tragedy, saying criminals are using the incident to solicit money from the public.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said on Sunday that individuals were mobilising funds through mobile wallets, including one controlled by Josphine Mutongi, claiming the money would assist the victims’ families or support protests.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns criminals who are now taking advantage of the Kuwadzana children’s tragedy to mobilise the public to deposit or send money into EcoCash and InnBucks accounts owned or controlled by Josphine Mutongi, under the guise of assistance to the families, children’s missing body parts protest and holding of an illegal demonstration or gathering,” Nyathi said.
He dismissed circulating claims that the children’s bodies had been mutilated.
“For the record, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has no evidence that one or all of the victims had missing body parts. The police are coordinating a full post-mortem to be conducted on October 6, 2025, in Harare. The results will be made public in consultation with the families,” he added.
Nyathi said the grieving families had disowned Mutongi, accusing her of creating confusion and exploiting their loss.
“The families of the victims have disowned Josphine Mutongi, who is openly using social media platforms to create confusion among Zimbabweans. The police strongly warn anyone or groups agitating for violence or illegal gatherings that the law will take its course without fear or favour,” he said.
He urged the public to respect the privacy of the mourning families and allow investigations to proceed.
The police warning follows the gruesome discovery of the bodies of three young children in the boot of a long-parked car in Kuwadzana Extension, after a two-day search that gripped the community.
The victims were siblings Anenyasha Muzanangu, 1, and Anopaishe Muzanangu, 4, and their neighbour Raymond Mukudzeyi, 3. They were last seen playing near a car park close to their homes on October 1.
Residents launched a desperate manhunt, circulating the children’s pictures widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
Two days later, an alert resident noticed a strong stench from a parked vehicle and, together with neighbours, broke open the boot — discovering the three children lying on top of one another.
Parents of the deceased were left inconsolable. While some residents believe the children suffocated inside the locked boot, others suspect foul play.
Bynet Bunu, who manages the car park, rejected claims that residents had properly searched the vehicle during the initial hunt.
“The father of the two deceased children called me to say they were missing. We then initiated a search, looking around the cars and in nearby churches. We didn’t hear any sounds or complaints at that time,” Bunu said.
He said the car had been parked at the site for three years.
“We checked all the cars with flashlights. While we were searching, I heard people saying they had seen the bodies. This is the first car park in this area. The children were playing with someone, and he said they moved away from him, leading to their disappearance,” he said.
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