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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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 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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S v Masauki and 2 Others (338 of 2024)

S v Masauki and 2 Others (338 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 338 (2 August 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

338 of 2024

The accused exceeded reasonable force in subduing the deceased, making them guilty of assault. The third accused was under imminent attack and his use of the axe was necessary and reasonable in the circumstances, justifying self-defence and acquittal on murder, but he is guilty of assault for excessive force.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Assault
• Self-defence
• Culpable homicide

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S v Kagoro and Another (244 of 2024)

S v Kagoro and Another (244 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 244 (14 June 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

244 of 2024

The High Court convicted Eric Kagoro and Brian Kagoro of murdering their father after finding they were the aggressors and their self-defence claim failed.

• Murder
• Defence of person
• Intention
• Credibility of witnesses
• Self-defence
• Witness-credibility

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S v Mandaza and 2 Others (116 of 2024)

S v Mandaza and 2 Others (116 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 116 (18 March 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

116 of 2024

High Court murder trial: first and second accused convicted after fatal assault; third accused acquitted on an unshaken alibi.

• Murder
• Alibi defence
• Confession
• Admissibility of evidence
• Self-defence
• Alibi-defence

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S v Matete (21 of 2024)

S v Matete (21 of 2024) [2024] ZWCHHC 21 (5 March 2024)

Court

Chinhoyi High Court

Case number

21 of 2024

The High Court acquitted the accused of murder after finding he acted in self-defence during a brotherly dispute that escalated into a fatal assault.

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Causation
• Criminal-law

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S v Kamupiro (241 of 2024)

S v Kamupiro (241 of 2024) [2024] ZWHHC 241 (8 February 2024)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

241 of 2024

The accused did not act in self-defence as there was no imminent attack; her actions were intentional and she ought to have foreseen the risk of death resulting from her conduct. The defence of self-defence was rejected as false and self-serving. The accused is found guilty of murder.

Source excerpt

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Intent
• Culpable homicide

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S v Mangenjani (619 of 2023)

S v Mangenjani (619 of 2023) [2023] ZWHHC 504 (21 November 2023)

Court

Harare High Court

Case number

619 of 2023

The High Court convicted Tinotenda Mangenjani of murder after finding his self-defence claim failed. The court accepted that he was the aggressor in a fatal stabbing over a missing beer.

• Murder
• Self-defence
• Defence of another
• Evidentiary standards
• Defence-of-another
• Criminal-evidence

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