By Violet Mashonga
Chinhoyi — In the small farming community of Chinhoyi, heartbreak hangs heavy in the air after the brutal killing of 9-year-old Munyaradzi Shumba, a boy remembered for his quiet smile and love for the cattle he herded after school.
Munyaradzi never came home on the evening of June 8, 2025. What started as a routine day at Chogi Farm, guiding cattle across dusty paths, ended in a tragedy that has left his family and neighbors reeling in shock and grief.
His tiny body, discovered hidden in the tall grass just 15 meters from where he was last seen alive, bore marks of horrific violence.
His stomach was ripped open, his neck and hand slashed, and, chillingly, his private parts were missing — sparking fears that his death may have been linked to ritualistic practices.
“I don’t know how we will go on,” whispered his mother, barely audible through her tears. “He was just a boy. My boy.”
Lloyd Gwenhere, a 32-year-old man from the same area, is now in police custody, accused of committing the unthinkable. According to police reports, the suspect allegedly attacked Munyaradzi after blaming him for allowing cattle to stray into his field.
A neighbor, Tariro Kwangwari, later came forward to say she saw the suspect beating the boy before sunset that day — the last time anyone saw him alive.
That night, panic set in as Munyaradzi’s family searched for him, calling his name in the dark. It was not until the next day that a search party made the grim discovery.
The Chinhoyi community is in mourning. Parents are holding their children a little tighter. Fear has crept into corners where only routine once lived.
“If a child can’t safely herd cattle in his own village, what does that say about us?” asked a local elder, his voice trembling with emotion.
Police are urging residents to remain calm but vigilant, and to come
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