Tinotenda Hove – A 35-year-old Guruve resident admitted guilt on Thursday, 14 May, to a string of violent offences that include attempted murder, rape and robbery.

Anymore Zvitsva appeared before Harare regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo facing five counts of attempted murder, four counts of rape and one count of robbery. He remained composed as the court conducted a pre-sentencing hearing. The magistrate set 20 May for sentencing.

During mitigation, several victims told the court they wanted Zvitsva to receive the death penalty, life imprisonment, or corporal punishment.

In response, Zvitsva said his actions did not reflect his upbringing. “I wasn’t raised to do these things,” he stated. “But I started committing crimes without control. I won’t dispute what the complainants said — they suffered because of me.”

Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti argued against a single combined sentence, saying the crimes were too grave and distinct to be handled together. He referenced S v Sparks 1972 (3) SA 396 (A), noting that a sentence should suit both the offender and the offence, be fair to the state and the accused, and include mercy without undermining justice.

The court heard Zvitsva will face separate murder charges in the High Court. The regional court is only handling the attempted murder, rape and robbery matters.

According to the State, on 9 October 2025 a 27-year-old woman sleeping at her home in Ditwi Village, Chiwe Farm, Raffingora, was allegedly attacked by Zvitsva. Armed with an Okapi knife and wire, he threatened her, bound her limbs, dragged her to the Dangemuri Mountain bush, raped her, and stabbed her in the back and neck before escaping.

On 27 October, he allegedly assaulted a 62-year-old woman fetching water in Mudhindo Village, Guruve. He struck her with a machete, raped her, and strangled her with wire until she lost consciousness.

Later that day, Zvitsva reportedly attacked Brian Ngoshi near Kachuta Business Centre. He hit Ngoshi twice on the head with a machete, strangled him with wire, and took a lighter and packet of Madison cigarettes. Zvitsva told the court he only asked to borrow Ngoshi’s cigarette and lashed out when refused.

The court also heard that on 18 November 2025 at Mupinyuri Village under Chief Chipuriro, Zvitsva allegedly stabbed another victim with a spear. In another incident, he attacked a woman with a log and strangled her with wire.

He further admitted to raping a 14-year-old girl. He tied her with shoelaces, took her to Nyakapupu Mountain and raped her three times. The assault ended when a passerby chasing baboons with an air gun interrupted, causing Zvitsva to flee.