Mutare – A 66-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by a police officer and a discharged police constable at a security base in the restive Chiadzwa diamond fields on Saturday, according to an internal Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) memorandum.

The document, a memorandum dated February 8, 2026, from ZRP Marange to the District Police Chief of Mutare Rural, details the events leading to the death of Tafadzwa Chamatumba, an illegal diamond panner from Wajembwa village.

The accused are named as WO2 Mabhena, a member of the Zimbabwe National Army currently deployed under “Operation Hakudzokwe” in Chiadzwa, and former Police Constable Phosani Dzitiro, who was discharged from the ZRP’s Police Constabulary (Policon) in September 2025.

Circumstances of the Assault

According to the memo, the incident began around 2 PM on February 7 at Mashukashuka Business Centre. Dzitiro allegedly arrested Chamatumba for disorderly conduct. When the deceased resisted, Dzitiro sought assistance from WO2 Mabhena.

The two men then took Chamatumba to the nearby Mashukashuka security base. There, the memo states, “they took turns to assault him.” WO2 Mabhena is alleged to have used a folded rope, while Dzitiro used a black sjambok (a heavy whip). They reportedly assaulted him “all over the body several times pouring water on him.”

Witness Account and Discovery of Death

A key witness, Norman Chitsau, reported seeing the assault in progress. Later, around 7 PM, Chitsau passed the base again and saw three soldiers assaulting four men, including another identified illegal panner.

Chitsau himself was then allegedly assaulted without cause and taken to a bushy area near the base. There, he found Chamatumba’s body “lying on the ground facing sideways covered with a tent.” Soldiers ordered Chitsau to wheel the body back to the deceased’s home in a wheelbarrow.

It was only upon arrival that Chitsau realized Chamatumba was not breathing. He returned to the base to alert WO2 Mabhena, who “showed ignorance.” Chitsau then informed the police.

Official Response and Ongoing Investigation

ZRP Marange attended the scene. The memo notes the deceased’s body remained at the scene awaiting the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The directive within the memo is clear: “Outstanding. To arrest the accused persons.”

The case is being investigated as murder under Section 47 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Code. The memo lists the investigation as “in progress” under ZRP Marange.

This incident is set to intensify scrutiny of security operations in the Marange diamond fields, a region long plagued by allegations of human rights abuses, illegal mining, and violence involving security forces, artisanal miners, and syndicates.

Attempts to obtain official comment from ZRP National Headquarters and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces were ongoing at the time of publication.