By Tinashe Mungazi
A visiting Gokwe man went berserk and fatally struck, with an axe, five members of a Binga family including a one-year-old baby strapped to one of his victims` back.
Christopher Gotore (20) originally from Marapira village in Gokwe who was visiting his in-laws in Marangana village, Lusulu, Binga under chief Sinamagonde is alleged to have armed himself with an axe before going on a bloodbath frenzy striking dead five members of his in-laws’ family where his sister is married.
Gotore is suspected to be suffering from an undisclosed mental condition.
The deceased were identified as Admire Nyangarayi, Shan Sibanda (7), Chiravingwa Shumba, Bibeat Munsaka (23) and one year old, Loice Compassion Sibanda.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident but referred further questions to national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi whose cellphone rang without being answered.
It is alleged that on the fateful night of March 6 at around 2000hrs Gotore went to Nyangarayi’s homestead in Marangana village where he set ablaze one of his huts. After noticing that one of his huts was on fire, Nyangarayi went outside to investigate.
Gotore who was lurking in the shadows struck him twice on the shoulder with the axe killing him instantly.
After that, he went to the bedroom hut which he shared with his brother in-law’s children, Shan and Tawanda Sibanda who were fast asleep.
He struck Shan twice on the head and he died on the spot.
After committing the offence he proceeded to a shed where his sister Patience Gotore was sitting with her husband, Bruce Sibanda and Shumba, his brother in-law’s aunt.
On arrival, he pounced on Shumba and struck her on the neck killing her instantly.
Sibanda tried to disarm Gotore but he was overpowered forcing him and his wife, Patience to flee the scene.
Gotore pursued Sibanda but soon gave up the chase after he failed to catch up with him.
He reportedly went back to the homestead and proceeded to the cattle pen where in a psychotic stance tied a cow to the fence and axed it on the neck, killing it instantly.
Unbeknownst to one of the family members Munsaka who had heard the commotion and sought refuge at the same cattle pen, Gotore pounced on her and chased her into a maize field where he struck her several times on the left cheek and she died on the spot.
He went on to strike one-year-old Loice who was strapped to Munsaka’s back killing her instantly.
The bodies were taken to Bulawayo for post-mortem while Gotore was subsequently arrested and is in police custody.
