Woman’s Harare Gardens daylight murder spreads fear in city

The murder of a woman in broad daylight has gripped the city, causing widespread fear.

Norest Chimusoro was accosted by a man in Harare Gardens. He attempted to grab her phone, and after she resisted, he stabbed her multiple times, causing fatal injuries.

The crime was committed on Thursday afternoon, with distress call received at 2.15pm.

The suspect is on the run, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed.

Some members of the public have called for police to be more vigilant as armed robberies have become common. While most have happened at night and in the early mornings, this one, in broad daylight show how brazen criminals have become.

What is more galling is that, normally, there are no fatalities in robbery, assuming that this is case of a robbery gone bad.

Some residents have blamed the proliferation of homeless people, also referred to as Street Kids, as the source of crimes.

The area in itself has historically been safe, home to the now-defunct Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa), the Zimbabwe Book Fair, the National Art Gallery, The Bowling Club, Theatre in the Park among other places.

It also houses the back end of the prestigious Monomotapa Crowne Plaza, meaning it being the site of such a horror crime will be of concern to many.