Gweru Triple Murderer Peter Dube Found Guilty By High Court As Judge Blasts Prosecutors

Gweru businessman Peter Dube has been found guilty of a brutal double murder after a dramatic international manhunt. Dube was convicted by the Bulawayo High Court, where the presiding judge did not hold back in his criticism of the prosecution’s handling of the case. Justice Munamato Mutevedzi detailed the “medieval ruthlessness” of Dube’s crimes and questioned why a third victim’s death was not included in the murder charges. The judgment brings a conclusive end to a legal process that began with a bloody night in Gweru over four years ago.

A Trail Of Violence And A Mysterious Omission

The court found that on the night of 22 April 2021, Dube unleashed what the judge termed “unmitigated violence.” He shot and killed Shelton Chiduku and Gamuchirai Madungwe in a car park. He then stormed upstairs and shot Nyasha Nharingo and her sister, Nyaradzo Nharingo. While Nyasha survived her injuries, Nyaradzo later died from complications related to her gunshot wound. Justice Mutevedzi expressed deep disquiet that Dube was not charged with Nyaradzo’s murder. In his judgment, he pointedly asked:

“Why then that death was not added to the list of murders can only be explained by the prosecution.”

This omission was a key point of contention in a case already filled with harrowing details.

The Great Escape And The Wife Who Helped

After the shootings, Peter Dube did not remain in Zimbabwe to face the music. The judgment reveals the intricate details of his escape, which was facilitated by his senior wife, Nomatter Chawana. According to the court, Dube fled Gweru that very night, crossing into South Africa before moving to Eswatini. There, he acquired a false Mozambican identity. Using this new alias, he managed to fly to Ireland, where he lived undetected for years. Justice Mutevedzi noted the sophistication of this escape, stating:

“By his own admission, he escaped with the aid of his senior wife… acquired a pseudonym… and used it to fly to and settle in Ireland.”

The judge also raised questions about why Chawana was never investigated for her role, remarking,

“She possibly committed a crime… but nobody ever raised an eyebrow against her.”

Dube’s run from the law ended when he was arrested in Ireland in June 2023, and subsequently deported back to Zimbabwe to stand trial.

A Calculated Defence Dismantled By The Court

Throughout the trial, Dube maintained that he was suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy and had no memory of the shootings, claiming he was mentally incapacitated at the time. This defence was thoroughly rejected by Justice Mutevedzi, who described it as “malingering” and “calculated.” The judge found the testimony of State psychiatrist Dr. Nemache Mawere to be compelling. The court cited Dr. Mawere’s observation that:

“The accused was simply play-acting… His gestures were not sequential… He was trying to run away from punishment.”

The judge concluded that Dube’s actions after the crime—managing a complex international escape, maintaining relationships, and navigating foreign immigration systems—were wholly incompatible with someone suffering from a severe mental disorder. With the insanity defence rejected, Dube was found guilty on two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He now awaits sentencing.