We are poorly resourced: ZRP

…As judge blasts police for ‘arresting to investigate’

Daniel Kachere

Police investigating the gruesome murder of Tapiwa Makore (Junior) are yet to conduct searches at suspect Thanks Makore’s other house where his second wife resides due to lack resources.

This emerged at Thanks Makore’s bail appeal application heard at the High Court in Harare Friday.

On Wednesday detectives spent over six hours searching for the deceased boy’s arms and head at Thanks Makore’s Damofalls home in Ruwa where his first wife resides. This was after the police had received a tip off that the missing parts were buried under a fowl run.

Detective Nyadundu from CID Murehwa, who is investigating the case, told presiding judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi that police were yet to conduct searches at his second house in Warren Park where his second wife resides.

He told the court that police were stretched in terms of resources and hence releasing Thanks would undermine their efforts as he was likely to destroy the evidence suspected to be there.

After this submission Justice Chitapi blasted the police for being in the habit of arresting to investigate, which he said did not augur well with the delivery of justice.

Nyadundu maintained the police believe Thanks to be the mastermind of the alleged murder as he had promised to pay his twin brother Tapiwa (Senior) and Tafadzwa Shamba US$1 500 if they completed the task.

Tapiwa (Senior) and Shamba are already in custody over the alleged murder of Tapiwa (Jnr).

Detective Nyadundu alleged that Thanks was given the missing body parts belonging to the murdered Murehwa boy and took them to Harare.

Nyadundu further stated that Thanks was facing a capital sentence if convicted, thus should not be released as that makes him a flight risk.

However, in his defence Thanks stated that he had a strong alibi as he was at his Ruwa home when the offence was committed.

He further stated that the charges were trumped up to fix him as he is not in good books with his relatives.

The matter was postponed to Tuesday next week for judgment. Nhau/Indaba