78-year-old woman sexually abused and murdered in Zimbabwe

Police have appealed for information that could help arrest suspects after a 78-year-old woman was found dead with signs of sexual abuse on her body in Chegutu.

In a statement, police named the killed woman as Enery Nankuku.

Police said Nankuku was “found dead with bruises to his thighs and a wound to his arm at Umfuli Banks, Chegutu on September 28, 2024”.

“It is suspected that the victim was sexually abused before he was killed. Anyone with information can contact the nearest police station.”

Police did not provide any further details about the shocking incident.

While law enforcement did not describe the nature of the woman’s sexual abuse, elder rape in Zimbabwe is often associated with ritual purposes.

Earlier this month, a 19-year-old teenager from Madlambuzi in Plumtree was charged in court for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman after threatening to stab her.

The motive behind the bizarre attack was not known.

In an almost similar incident, police in Bulawayo recently arrested another 19-year-old man from the city’s densely populated Mpopoma suburb for allegedly attempting to rape a 78-year-old woman from the same area.