Deadly Vigilante Justice: Brother's Revenge Ends i...

Deadly Vigilante Justice: Brother's Revenge Ends in Tragedy

Munyaradzi Mashiri | Court Correspondent

A Budiriro man who allegedly tried to save his sister from an intruder is now facing murder charges after a vigilante-style attack turned fatal.

Panashe Garanewako, 26, of Budiriro 5B, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with murder.

Prosecutors allege that on January 10, 2025, Garanewako was sleeping in his cottage when he heard a commotion coming from the main bedroom.

He recognised the voice crying for help as that of his sister and rushed into the room.

Upon entering, he saw the now-deceased allegedly strangling his sister, Tinevimbo Garanewako.

When the alleged intruder saw Garanewako, he reportedly fled through the window, prompting Garanewako to give chase.

Garanewako allegedly ran after him, shouting for help, and caught up with him about 75 metres away.

The now-deceased reportedly told Garanewako that Tinevimbo was his girlfriend and that he was shocked she had cried for help when he entered her room.

Despite this, Garanewako and his accomplices allegedly began assaulting the man.

Witnesses who heard the commotion came outside and reportedly saw the now-deceased lying on the ground being assaulted by Garanewako, his accomplices, and a mob of about 50 people using whips and logs.

Garanewako, together with Admire Ngoshi, Isaac Yona, Munyaradzi Maburutse, and Shawn Matope—who are already on remand for this case—and other suspects still at large, allegedly took the victim to Gunguwo Street in Budiriro 5B, where they continued the assault until he lost consciousness.

They later discovered that the victim was no longer showing signs of life. Garanewako then made a report at ZRP Budiriro.

His accomplices were arrested, and during interviews, Admire Ngoshi allegedly implicated Garanewako as one of the people involved in the fatal assault, leading to his arrest.