Killer Ex-Cop Jaison Muvevi No Longer Mentally Unstable, Declared Fit To Stand Trial For Murder Spree

Jaison Muvevi Declared Mentally Fit To Stand Trial For Murder Spree

A former police detective, accused of a multi-city shooting rampage that left four people dead, has been declared mentally fit for trial. Jaison Muvevi, who has been held in a psychiatric unit since January 2023, will now face the High Court in March 2026.

The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Ruth Moyo on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, following a new psychiatric evaluation. According to ZimLive, the court received a conclusive report from two state-appointed doctors.

“The doctors have concluded that the accused is capable of standing trial,” Magistrate Moyo stated.

This development paves the way for a long-awaited trial, scheduled for March 16 to 20, 2026. Muvevi will answer to four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder stemming from alleged incidents between November 2022 and January 2023.

A Trail Of Alleged Violence

The charges against Muvevi detail a violent spree across Harare, Hwedza, and Mutare. Prosecutors allege it began on November 19, 2022, in Harare’s Eastlea suburb with the shooting of Nyarai Round. The motive for this killing remains unclear.

The situation escalated dramatically on January 13, 2023. According to court papers, Muvevi visited a Johanne Masowe shrine in Hwedza run by self-styled prophet Chrispen Kanerusine, 62. An argument reportedly ensued after a prophecy was delivered.

The court was told the ex-cop went to his vehicle, which was parked close to the shrine, and came back with an FN Browning firearm, which he used to shoot the preacher once in the head.

Chaos On The Hwedza Road

After the shooting at the shrine, police were alerted. A team led by Inspector Maxwell Hove, the Officer-in-Charge for Hwedza, located Muvevi’s vehicle and blocked its path. What followed was a deadly confrontation.

Armed police responding to the incident cornered Muvevi… Muvevi, who was outside the car, allegedly opened fire on the officers while charging forward.

Inspector Hove, who was reportedly unarmed and seated in a police truck, was shot three times and died at the scene. Detective Constable Tendai Mugova was also shot multiple times but survived his injuries. Muvevi allegedly disarmed the officers before fleeing the scene.

His alleged rampage continued at Murambinda Business Centre, where he is accused of shooting and killing 20-year-old bartender Munashe Majani. After a further alleged shooting incident at Mutare Boys High School on January 14, Muvevi fled to Mozambique, where he was arrested on January 15, 2023, and later extradited.

With his mental fitness now certified by the state, the stage is set for a major trial next year. The families of Nyarai Round, Chrispen Kanerusine, Inspector Maxwell Hove, and Munashe Majani will finally see the case proceed to the High Court.