After being discovered in a blood-drenched shirt, a man was arrested in Zvipani, northern Zimbabwe, last week.

It turned out that in the early hours of Friday morning, twenty-year-old Isaac Mashonga beheaded his 40-year-old sister Dadirai, reports News24, after a local businessman offered him $4 000 (R52 000) for a human head:

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told state radio that the unnamed businessman needed the head “to boost his business”.

“Mashonga then chopped off his sister’s head after killing her with an axe at around 02:00 on Friday,” the ZBC said.

Believing human body parts can work as charms to make their business more profitable, many operators turn to ritual killings and these killings have been on the rise:

Late last month a 22-year old man from the southern town of Gwanda was arrested after he was found in possession of the head and genitals of a homeless man. The suspect, Honest Moyo claimed he’d been offered $25 000 for body parts from a local businessman.

In a video testimony shared by state media, Moyo said his victim was dead when he found him and “I took what I wanted”.

And in February, reports said a 22-year-old man from southern Zimbabwe was arrested for allegedly killing his 12-year-old brother to help him get rich and find a beautiful woman to marry, a Chronicle report said.

Imagine what kind of situation must find yourself in to be driven to kill your kin for money. Eish.

[source: news24]