Three Stabbed in Gweru Random Attacks, Separate Suspected Suicide Reported

Gweru - Police in Zimbabwe's central city of Gweru launched a manhunt on Saturday for an unidentified man who stabbed three people in what appeared to be unprovoked assaults at a busy business centre, as authorities also investigate a separate case of suspected suicide by hanging in a nearby suburb.

The stabbing incidents unfolded late on Friday evening at Mkoba 6 Business Centre, a commercial hub in the densely populated Mkoba suburb, according to a statement from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands Province.

The attacks left residents on edge, with officers urging heightened vigilance amid rising concerns over public safety in urban areas strained by economic hardships.

The first victim, 34-year-old Nothando Ncube, was walking home after finishing her shift when the assailant struck without warning, inflicting two stab wounds on her for "no apparent reason," police said.

Minutes later, roughly 30 metres away, the man carried out two more attacks in similar fashion, targeting 31-year-old Oscar Matema and a 13-year-old juvenile.

Police noted that the suspect had not spoken to any of the victims prior to the assaults, and his motive remains unclear.

Ncube and the juvenile were admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital for treatment of their injuries, while Matema was treated at the same facility and discharged.

None of the wounds were reported as life-threatening, but the random nature of the violence has prompted a police response.

"The man has not been arrested," the ZRP statement read. "We appeal to residents of Mkoba suburbs to be on the look-out for him," Inspector Mahoko said.

In a call for public assistance, police encouraged anyone with information to contact officers at Mkoba station or the nearest police post.

"Anyone with information that can help identify and arrest the suspect should get in touch with police at Mkoba or any nearest police station," the statement added.

In a separate incident reported early Saturday, Gweru Rural District police opened an investigation into the suspected suicide of 53-year-old Kizito Benjamini, a resident of Mkoba 15 suburb, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree at Bata stands around 3 p.m. on Friday.

A passerby alerted authorities to the grim find, prompting a rapid response from officers who confirmed the man's identity and transported the body to Gweru Provincial Hospital.

There, it was certified dead by Dr. Daniel Nyakunu before being moved to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination, police said.

No foul play is suspected at this stage, though the investigation continues to rule out external involvement.

Benjamini's death adds to a troubling trend of suicides in Zimbabwe, where mental health resources remain severely limited amid ongoing economic woes and social isolation.

"The public need to be reminded that taking one's life is never the best solution of solving one's problems," Inspector Mahoko said.