A man killed a three-year-old boy in a heavily wooded area before dumping his body in a river in what is suspected to be a brutal ritual murder.
The incident occurred in Chimwa area in Zombie on Monday evening.
Midlands Police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of the little boy whose body was dumped in the river.
He added, “Investigations are ongoing.”
Sources told H-Metro that Stedi Munda, the man accused of killing the child, implicates a local businessman.
“Steady was in the company of Caston (Muchioki) and they boarded a commuter bus to a school (Chimwa Primary School) where they intended to repair some windows.
“The kombi in which the two were traveling got stuck in the sand near the river.
“The driver ordered the passengers to get off so he could solve the problem.
“It was about the time that Steady disappeared, and Caston, realizing his colleague was missing, began to conduct a search.”
The sources added: “Caston was with other passengers when they began searching for him.
“They came across a group of crying children and told them that a strange man (Steady) had run away with a little boy.
“He was then found on the other side of the river after his body was disposed of in the water.”
Another source said: “He held the audience steady and began to question him.
Then he implicated a person named Tambo and accused him of sending him (to kill the child).
“Stedi is currently in police custody at ZRP Gokwe.”
In a circulating video clip, Stedi appears lying on the ground with his hands tied behind his back.
He added: “The children were playing under a tree, then he killed the child and threw his body into the water.
“It appears he strangled the child.
“The suspect was beaten so badly that he could no longer speak after the beating.”
