Zimbabwe Case Law

S v Manyange (150 of 2025)

S v Manyange (150 of 2025) [2025] ZWBHC 150 (5 July 2025)

Court

Bulawayo High Court

Case number

150 of 2025

The court found that the accused was not under imminent unlawful attack and did not meet the requirements for self-defence. The use of a firearm was unreasonable and disproportionate, and the accused, as a trained police officer, should have used non-lethal means. The court concluded that the accused intended to kill or foresaw the risk of death, satisfying the mens rea for murder. The State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Use of firearms by police
• Police conduct
• Sentencing

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SHAMBA AND ANOTHER V THE STATE (36 OF 2025)

SHAMBA AND ANOTHER V THE STATE (36 OF 2025) [2025] ZWSC 36 (12 May 2025)

Court

Supreme Court of Zimbabwe

Case number

36 OF 2025

Zimbabwe Supreme Court upheld murder convictions of two appellants in a child ritual killing case, but set aside death sentences and imposed life imprisonment.

• Murder
• Accomplice liability
• Circumstantial evidence
• Sentencing
• Abolition of death penalty
• Accomplice-liability

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Paddington Kapfudza v Lawrence Billiant & 2 others

Paddington Kapfudza v Lawrence Billiant & 2 others [2025] ZWCHHC 8 (26 March 2025)

Court

Chinhoyi High Court

The accused was found guilty of murder based on circumstantial evidence, with no aggravating circumstances present. Mitigating factors included family responsibilities, time spent in custody, and voluntary intoxication. The appropriate sentence was determined to be 14 years imprisonment, considering all factors.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Sentencing
• Mitigation
• Aggravating circumstances

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S v Marowa and 2 Others (537 of 2024)

S v Marowa and 2 Others (537 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 537 (22 November 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

537 of 2024

The murder was committed in multiple aggravating circumstances, including during a robbery and to facilitate further crimes, justifying a sentence of life imprisonment rather than death.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Aggravated circumstances
• Sentencing
• Robbery

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S v Marira (534 of 2024)

S v Marira (534 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 534 (19 November 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

534 of 2024

The High Court convicted Memory Marira of murder after finding she intentionally struck her husband with a heavy bottle and rejected provocation and self-defence.

• Murder
• Culpable homicide
• Provocation
• Self-defence
• Criminal-law
• High-court

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S v Marira (535 of 2024)

S v Marira (535 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 535 (19 November 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

535 of 2024

The High Court held the murder was not committed in aggravating circumstances and imposed a 15-year prison term after finding provocation and remorse.

• Murder
• Sentencing
• Aggravating circumstances
• Mitigating circumstances
• Domestic violence
• Murder-sentencing

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S v Nyagadzi (533 of 2024)

S v Nyagadzi (533 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 533 (7 November 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

533 of 2024

The accused is not guilty of murder but guilty of culpable homicide as he acted negligently without intent to kill, in circumstances where the deceased was the aggressor and the accused was intoxicated. The mitigatory factors outweigh aggravation, justifying a custodial sentence of 4 years imprisonment with 2 years suspended for 5 years on condition of good behaviour.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Culpable homicide
• Sentencing
• Mitigation and aggravation

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S v Gomba (546 of 2024)

S v Gomba (546 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 546 (21 October 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

546 of 2024

The High Court found that Rachel Gomba acted in self-defence against an unlawful attack, but used unreasonable means, so the murder charge was reduced to culpable homicide.

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Culpable homicide
• Domestic violence
• Culpable-homicide
• Domestic-violence

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The State v Tsambola (388 of 2024)

The State v Tsambola (388 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 388 (5 September 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

388 of 2024

The accused's claim of self-defence was rejected as false and unsupported by evidence; the court found he deliberately sought out and killed the deceased in anger over infidelity, with no imminent attack against him, thus establishing murder beyond reasonable doubt.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Mental health in criminal law
• Arson

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The State v Gwashure (389 of 2024)

The State v Gwashure (389 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 389 (5 September 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

389 of 2024

The accused failed to establish that he was provoked to the extent required by law; there was no evidence of sufficient provocation, and a reasonable person would not have lost self-control in the circumstances. The accused's actions were deliberate, brutal, and not a spontaneous reaction to provocation. The defence of provocation was rejected, and the prosecution proved murder beyond reasonable doubt.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Provocation
• Domestic violence

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