Post-Mortem Reveals Chiredzi ECD Pupil Was Raped Before Being Killed & Dumped

Post-Mortem Reveals Chiredzi ECD Pupil Steadfast Makondo, 6, Was Raped Before Being Killed & Dumped As Councillor Flee

The horrific death of Chiredzi ECD student Steadfast Makondo has taken a chilling turn. Shocking new details from a post-mortem examination have confirmed the six-year-old was raped before she was brutally killed and her body dumped in a bush.

The ECD learner at Chiredzi Government Primary went missing on 27 January 2026. Her body was discovered the following day in Newtown, roughly 500 metres from her school. Now, official autopsy results have confirmed the worst fears of a shattered family and an outraged community.

National Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the grim findings to the Masvingo Mirror.

“Yes, I can confirm that the child was abused and murdered. She had marks and multiple bruises on her body, so we are treating this as a murder case.”

Police have launched a full-scale manhunt for Ward 19 Chiredzi Rural District councillor, Lovemore Muchono. The councillor, who transported Steadfast and other children to and from school, is said to be on the run. He reportedly left behind a chilling confession note inside his vehicle before he disappeared.

Confession Note Left Behind In Fleeing Councillor’s Car

The sequence of events, pieced together from that alleged note and police sources, paints a picture of catastrophic negligence followed by frantic concealment.

According to the publication, the confession letter claims that on the morning of Tuesday, 27 January 2026, Muchono collected Steadfast and other children for school.

“He said he took the child to school and forgot to drop her off when he dropped others. He went to work and parked his car while Steadfast was inside.”

The note reportedly states Muchono only realised his fatal error at lunch hour when he returned to his vehicle. By then, the child was already dead.

What follows in the alleged confession is even more disturbing. The note describes a panicked attempt to cover up the incident.

“After realising the dead child, he took the body to Chitsanga Hill and left it there and went to school where he pretended that the child was missing and even went to the teacher to ask about the whereabouts of the child.”

The note further claims he later moved the body from Chitsanga Hill to the Newtown location, where it was eventually discovered by searchers.

Muchono reportedly attended Steadfast’s funeral on 2 February 2026. He then vanished. His abandoned car was found with a handwritten note inside.

‘School Authorities Seemed Unbothered’ – Grieving Mother Cries Out

For Steadfast’s mother, Khongelani Livombo, the confirmation of rape and murder has shattered any hope of closure.

Speaking to ZBC News, Livombo expressed her anguish and fury at the initial response from the school when her daughter failed to return home.

“I tried to look for my child, hoping she would be found safe, but I was shocked when I was informed that she had been found dead. What pains me most is that the school authorities seemed unbothered about her disappearance, even though it happened while she was at school.”

Her father, Travor Makondo, is struggling to comprehend how a routine school day ended in the rape and murder of his child. Her aunt, Precious Livombo, told reporters she immediately suspected foul play upon viewing the body.

Ministry And Police Issue Urgent Safety Directives

In the wake of the murder, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has issued a stark warning to parents and guardians.

Commissioner P. Nyathi urged heightened vigilance.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges parents and guardians to take full responsibility for the safety of their children, particularly primary and ECD learners, by accompanying them to and from school.”

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has also been forced to respond. Patrick Zumbo, the Ministry’s Deputy Director for Communications and Advocacy, emphasised that schools cannot abdicate their duty of care.

“As a Ministry, the safety of our learners is our greatest concern. Teaching and non-teaching staff are responsible for children while at school. There must be a proper handover and takeover of ECD learners.”

Steadfast Makondo was finally laid to rest on 4 February 2026 at Gonakudzingwa farm 16 in Chikombedzi. Police have confirmed their manhunt for Lovemore Muchono remains active.

Footnote: Initial reports published shortly after Steadfast Makondo’s disappearance on 27 January 2026 listed her age as four years old. The [Masvingo Mirror] and subsequent police statements have since clarified that the correct age of the victim is six years old. This article reflects the confirmed age of six.