She somehow survived and is alive to tell the tale. The
scar on her forehead will always remind her of the April 23, 2021 ordeal, where
the alleged shooter, Peter Dube, also reportedly shot and killed two people at
Belmont Flats in Gweru.
The deceased — Shelton Chinhango and Gamuchirai Mudungwe —
were shot by Dube, who went on a rampage after suspecting Shelton of having an
affair with his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo, who is Nyaradzo’s sister. Nyasha
is now based in South Africa.
Nyaradzo is not only pained and traumatised by the
shooting, but being reported dead in both the mainstream media and on social
media platforms is also taking an emotional toll on her. Although three people
were reportedly killed on that fateful day, it has since emerged that only
Shelton and Gamuchirai died after the heinous attack.
“I had come from South Africa, where I was based, to apply
for a passport.
“The normal process would take long, which prompted me to
opt for an emergency travelling document.
“It was during the time that I was planning to travel to
Harare to apply for an emergency travelling document that I was called by the
Masvingo Passport Office.
“Shelton then offered to take me to Masvingo, where I was
then accompanied by Gamu (Gamuchirai Mudungwe), Nyasha and my other younger
sister,” Nyaradzo told The Sunday Mail after a visit to her home in Senga,
Gweru. Nyaradzo said they delayed returning to Gweru from Masvingo since they
had to pass through Shelton’s mine.
Upon their return to Gweru, they went to Nyasha’s apartment
at Belmont Flats, where they found Dube locked inside with Nyaradzo’s child and
his two children.
Apparently, Dube and Nyasha have two children. “We tried to
talk to him to open the door, but he refused.
“We do not know why he was refusing to open the door, but
our suspicion was that he was angered that his wife, Nyasha, had returned home
late.
“We then left the apartment to call the police for
assistance. Peter refused to open the door, even in the presence of the police.
The police then left. We then went to call his first wife (Nomatter Chawana)
and his younger brother, Advance, so that they could talk to Peter. That was
when he finally opened the door,” she said.
Nyaradzo indicated that they sat down with Dube and
discussed various issues, including the misunderstandings and disputes he was
having with Nyasha. During the conversations, Dube, she said, never even showed
any signs he was capable of doing what followed next.
“We sat down and we talked over the matter, with Peter
seemingly understanding. We advised them not to have altercations in front of
their children since one of them is a grown-up. After the conversation, my
daughter went to Shelton’s car with Nyasha’s son.
“Peter then went downstairs, where Shelton and Gamu were
parked,” she said.
The next thing she remembers is Dube pointing a firearm
towards her and aiming at his son.
She naturally cradled and shielded her child. I never heard
the gunshots when he shot Shelton and Gamu. What I remember was seeing him
holding a gun when I was walking towards the stairs. I do not know what
happened thereafter.
“I only saw myself admitted to hospital.
“I don’t think Peter and Shelton knew each other. Up to
this day, I do not know what happened that led Peter to shoot Shelton, and,
unfortunately, Gamu is not here to explain what triggered Peter to shoot them.”
Nyaradzo believes police could have done more the first
time they responded to the incident. She is, however, happy that the long arm
of the law seems to have caught up with Dube in Ireland. She hopes this will
help bring closure to a crime that almost became a cold case.
“I want this matter to come to a conclusion. I am
traumatised and stressed each time I think of it,” she said.
Nyaradzo also claimed Dube conned her of money and a
vehicle after they had entered into a swap-and-top-up deal.
“I gave him a Honda Fit plus extra money and he was
supposed to give me a Toyota Bubble. As we speak, I could have sold the car to
cover my medical expenses. There are scans that cost US$500 and I cannot afford
them.
“I am no longer able to work because of the injury, and my
parents are also not gainfully employed,” she said.
Nyaradzo is currently seeking financial assistance. Her
father, Ishmael Nharingo, also wants closure.
“Peter and Nyasha had not customarily married and they had
two children. They were co-habiting. They fell in love and started staying
together while renting her a flat in town,” he said.
“We were living in fear since he had a weapon, and there
was nothing we could do.”
“He never showed aggression and even their domestic dispute
only came to light after the shooting. The community is yet to come to terms as
to why he would go to the extent of killing these people.
“We leave everything in the hands of the police. Let the
law take its course. The police never gave us feedback, save to say that people
had hope that he will be caught.
“We have to wait for his day in court.”
The late Gamuchirai’s sister, Shuvai, said Dube’s relatives
are yet to fulfil promises they made after her sibling was buried.
“We are happy that he was arrested in Ireland, and we hope
justice will be served, but it is actually taking us back to the time when we
were in mourning.
“Dube’s family came and engaged us. They made certain
agreements; maybe something to do with appeasing. I cannot say much as they
engaged my uncles,” she said.
Peter was arrested in Ireland in June after The Sunday
Mail’s expose on how he had allegedly skipped the border, assumed a new
identity and obtained an Eswatini passport before seeking asylum in Ireland.
He now awaits to be extradited back to Zimbabwe. Sunday
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