Guruve serial murder suspect Anymore Zvitsva appears in court

ANYMORE Zvitsva, who is suspected of terrorising rural communities across Mashonaland Central, has finally appeared in court following his arrest after weeks on the run.

The 33-year-old alleged killer is now facing 12 grave criminal counts involving murder, rape and attempted murder.He was arrested on January 3, 2026, following a prolonged manhunt.

Zvitsva of Vheremu village under Chief Chipuriro, was remanded in custody to January 19 from his hospital bed by Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe.

Police say he evaded capture by retreating into mountainous areas after each alleged attack. He is unemployed and was taken into custody by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Unit.

Court documents show that Zvitsva is accused of committing a sequence of violent crimes between April 2024 and December 2025 in Guruve and Mvurwi.

Investigators allege a recurring pattern of night-time ambushes, forced entry into homes, strangulation with snare wire, sexual violence and the use of knives, machetes, spears and poison.

Police say they recovered snare wire, suspected poison, a bloodstained spear and stolen property, including a solar panel, from the accused at the time of his arrest. Witnesses have also been identified who allegedly saw him committing some of the offences.

Count 1:

Zvitsva is accused of murdering Jane Dube on March 6, 2025, at Rangwani village. Prosecutors allege he knocked on her door late at night demanding money, forced his way into the house and chased her as she fled. She was allegedly beaten repeatedly with an iron rod and left dead in a maize field.

Count 2:

On April 6, 2024, at Nyakapupu, the accused is alleged to have abducted a woman who was herding cattle, dragged her into a gum plantation, raped her, strangled her with wire and hanged her from a tree. Her body was found the following morning.

Count 3:

The State alleges that on October 7, 2025, in Mvurwi, Zvitsva attacked a woman searching for cattle, threatened her with a machete and strangled her using wire. Her body was discovered the next day.

Count 4:

On October 27, 2025, at Mubaiwa village, he is accused of confronting two people on their way to a garden, forcing them into a dry stream. One was allegedly killed with a blunt object, while the other was strangled with wire and hanged.

Count 5:

Prosecutors allege that on November 30, 2025, the accused broke into a two-roomed house at Nyakapupu and strangled three women to death in their sleep using snare wire. Their bodies were discovered days later.

Count 6:

On December 9, 2025, at Zimuna village, Zvitsva is accused of forcing entry into a one-roomed house and killing three occupants by strangulation. A fourth victim was allegedly abducted, raped at Nyakapupu mountain, killed while attempting to escape and buried in the mountains.

Count 7:

The accused also faces charges relating to a December 14, 2025 attack at Ona farm, where he allegedly stabbed five people in two separate structures after entering the homestead armed with a knife and spear.

Count 8:

On December 22, 2025, at Bosha village, Zvitsva is accused of forcing entry into a house, dragging one woman to another room, poisoning and strangling her, then raping a second woman before killing her in the same manner.

Count 9 (Rape):

In an earlier incident, the accused is alleged to have entered a woman’s bedroom at night, threatened her and her children with a machete, covered them with blankets and raped the complainant before fleeing with property.

Count 10 (Rape):

On December 19, 2025, at Muzura Farm, he is accused of abducting a complainant from her home, tying her with shoelaces and raping her twice in the mountains. He allegedly fled after being spotted, leaving behind stolen items later recovered by police.

Count 11 (Attempted Murder):

On November 18, 2025, at Mupinyuri village, Zvitsva is accused of breaking into a bedroom at night and attempting to strangle a woman with wire. After being overpowered, he allegedly stabbed her son several times before escaping.

Count 12 (Attempted Murder):

The final count relates to a December 13, 2025 incident at Zvivindi Business Centre, where the accused allegedly choked a shopkeeper unconscious with snare wire during a break-in before stealing groceries.

In an affidavit opposing bail, investigating officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Peter Gwavuya, said Zvitsva was a serious flight risk, had previously hidden in remote areas, and was likely to interfere with witnesses, some of whom are relatives of the deceased.

Police further warned that the nature and frequency of the alleged crimes showed a lack of remorse and posed a continuing threat to public safety. Zvitsva remains in custody as investigations continue and he awaits further court proceedings.