High Court judge Justice Emilia Muchawa last week sentenced Bridget Makaza, 38, to 27 years in prison for the murder of her husband, McCloud Zvavovaviri Mapanga, the owner of Kurai Bus Company.
The court found that in the early hours of May 14, 2018, Makaza fatally shot her sleeping husband three times—twice in the neck and once on the shoulder—using a .38 Amadeo Rossi revolver.
Makaza’s defence rested on a long history of physical and emotional abuse by Mapanga, and that the shooting was accidental during a struggle. She denied buying the gun and said her confession on record was made under duress.
Justice Muchawa rejected these claims, ruling that the evidence overwhelmingly proved premeditation.
“The accused procured the weapon, waited for the victim to be asleep, fired three shots, and staged a cover-up. Those actions clearly show intent to kill,” the judge said.
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According to evidence before the court, Makaza had travelled to South Africa on May 2 2018, where she purchased the unregistered firearm and smuggled it back into Zimbabwe by road.
After the killing, she staged a robbery at their Belvedere, Harare home, claiming intruders had killed her husband and stolen US$12 000.
Justice Muchawa noted that Makaza then drove to a swampy area to dispose of the firearm and a pair of latex gloves before going to Mabelreign Police Station to make a false robbery report.
“She waited for a convenient time to carry out the murder while the deceased was asleep. She then sanitised the disposal of the weapon by passing through the police station to report a robbery,” Justice Muchawa said.
Makaza was arrested soon after the incident and placed on remand but later fled to the United Kingdom. She was re-arrested in December 2024 upon her return to Zimbabwe, leading to the full trial and conviction.
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