Musawenkosi Hara (39) of New Magwegwe suburb ganged up with
her boyfriend, Farai Michael Mutasa who later committed suicide, and killed her
friend Thulisile Dube (36) who had just returned from South Africa.
Hara was convicted of murder by Bulawayo High Court judge
Justice Christopher Dube-Banda.
In passing the sentence, Justice Dube-Banda condemned
Hara’s behaviour, saying the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances.
“You stand convicted of a very serious crime. You ended the
life of a person who considered you a friend and every time she came from South
Africa she would look for you so that you go drinking and partying,” he said.
Justice Dube-Banda said through her actions, Hara betrayed
the trust bestowed on her by Dube including the deceased’s family.
“You are the last person the deceased thought would cause
her death. Even on the day after drinking and partying, she thought she was
safe to remain with you since she considered you a friend. She allowed
everybody to be dropped at their respective homes and remained with you and
your boyfriend because she trusted you,” he said.
“The damage you have caused to her family and her two
children cannot be mended. The attack was brutal and savage.”
Justice Dube-Banda said the deceased died of a violent and
painful death.
“The kind of brutality you exhibited on that day is
alarming indeed. You displayed a high degree of colossal such that you could
not feel sorry or pity for someone who considered you a friend,” he said.
Justice Dube-Banda said during the trial Hara did not show
remorse and deserved a lengthy prison term for her actions.
“You came to this court and peddled falsehood after
falsehood, a remorseful person does not do that. You committed an evil act and
this court will hold you accountable. Accordingly, you are sentenced to 25
years imprisonment,” ruled the judge.
In mitigation, through her pro deo lawyer, Mr Simbarashe
Innocent Madzivire of Tanaka Law Chambers, Hara pleaded for lenience, saying
she had a tough upbringing, which had a bearing on her character.
Hara, a mother of two, told the court she was the sole
breadwinner taking care of her minor children including her elderly parents.
Prosecuting, Ms Caroline Mabhena said on August 17 last
year, Dube returned from South Africa where she had been doing business.
Three days later, the now-deceased borrowed a car, a silver
Honda Fit from her brother Thabani Freedom Dube and took her friends Shylet
Sithole, Clarisa Njowera, Samkeliso Ndlovu, Sibonokuhle Mbuyisa, including Hara
and her boyfriend for partying at a nightclub in Bulawayo.
The following morning at around 4am, they decided to go
home and Mutasa was the one driving the car as Dube was now intoxicated.
They dropped Mbuyisa in Cowdray Park, Ndlovu in Luveve, and
Sithole in Nkulumane after which Hara and Mutasa hatched a plan to kill Dube.
“Hara and her boyfriend struck Dube with an unknown object
on the head resulting in her death. They then took her cellphone, a black
plastic bag containing various clothes, a wristwatch, a power bank, a pair of
black and white sneakers, and a brown handbag containing a passport and an
undisclosed amount of cash,” said Ms Mabhena.
After committing the murder, the pair placed the body in
the Honda Fit, locked it and abandoned the car in a bushy area in Emganwini.
In her warned and cautioned statement, Hara tried to
exonerate herself by apportioning the blame to Mutasa.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s aunt, Ms Sinikiwe Dube said they
demanded 14 cattle from both the Hara and Mutasa families following the death
of her niece.
Mutasa’s family complied while the Hara family is yet to.
“We are happy with the 25 years given to Musawenkosi Hara
because she has to suffer for what she did.
“Thulisile’s mother was mentally and emotionally affected
following the death of her daughter and this also affected the deceased’s son’s
performance at school,” she said. Chronicle
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