TWO brothers were detained on Sunday in Glen Norah after they beat their 73-year-old father to death and accused him of practicing witchcraft.
According to reports, in the presence of their mother Faith, 67, Bruce Chitaukire, 47, of Stoneridge, and Changchu Chitaukire, 43, of Glen Norah New Stands, ganged up on their father Solomon and severely beat him with a piece of hose pipe.
Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the spokesperson for the Harare Provincial Police, confirmed the arrest and urged the public to seek out elders and counselors rather than resorting to self-defense to settle their differences.
"Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man from Glen Norah who was allegedly attacked by his two sons.
"According to circumstances, on January 28 at around 8:20 p.m., the two accused people—who were reportedly intoxicated—arrived at the home while their mother and their father, who is now deceased, were together.
"One of the sons began accusing the now-deceased of witchcraft, claiming that he was responsible for his sister's and young brother's mysterious deaths.
“He then started assaulting the now deceased with a piece of hose several times all over his body, and the other son joined in the assault.
According to Inspector Chakanza, "The two fled the scene and the now deceased managed to walk from the dining room into his bedroom where he lay on the bed."
"The deceased's wife, who had spent the night at her neighbor's house, returned home with breakfast for the deceased at around 7 a.m. on January 29. He did not respond when she attempted to wake him up, he claimed.
The Sally Mugabe Hospital Mortuary is holding Solomon's body while the post-mortem is performed.
Yesterday, detectives brought the two brothers to the crime scene to look for clues.
The elderly man's passing was attributed by the elderly man's neighbors to some self-proclaimed false prophets who have been misleading and severing families.
'Ngapatsvagwe muporofita akaudza vana' and 'kuti baba vavo ndivo vakaroya vamwe vana'
"This is Saka Munhu; akachembera atove Muroyi. The two must face the law and disclose the false prophets who deceived them,” stated a neighbour.
Photo: File