Guruve serial killer Anymore Zvitsva’s 107-year-old grandmother, siblings arrested
The 107-year-old grandmother and siblings of the wanted Guruve serial killer suspect Anymore Zvitsva have been arrested for allegedly assisting him.
Police allege the family members supplied the 32-year-old fugitive with food and information as he evades a massive manhunt for the murders of 12 people. The shocking arrests within the suspect’s own family have deepened the crisis in a community already paralysed by terror.
The investigation into the 32-year-old suspect took a dramatic turn with the arrest of his elderly grandmother and siblings. Police allege they supplied Zvitsva with food and information on the search efforts.
The suspect’s niece, Reason, who is now caring for her grandmother’s empty compound, confirmed the arrest to The Herald. Her mother was one of Zvitsva’s first victims.
“I am all alone here, Gogo is now 107 years old, she had to be taken in by police to stop any one from supplying my killer uncle with information related to his hunt,” Reason said. “I came here years ago so that I could take care of Gogo since she is now old, I never thought that my uncle would one day murder my mother in cold blood.”
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi reiterated the warning against aiding the fugitive.
“The substantial monetary reward is still standing and we are also looking for people or relatives who are assisting the suspect. They are liable for arrest,” Commissioner Nyathi stated.
Since the killings began in October 2024, escalating drastically in late December, life in Guruve has ground to a halt. Residents describe being prisoners in their own homes, too afraid to tend their fields or livestock. The Herald reported that villagers now sleep in groups for safety and have been issued whistles to sound alarms. Edith Guhwa of Mukuya village, who lost five relatives, voiced the pervasive fear.
“We are now confined to our homes, we cannot attend our fields anymore because it is now too dangerous to be out there with a serial killer on the loose,” Guhwa said. “The first five victims were my close relatives, I am still in shock of what happened and do not feel safe anymore, I fear for myself and children.”
Edward Gweshe, who claims to have grown up with Zvitsva, urged swift action from security forces.
“Our lives will not return to normalcy until the killer has been nabbed,” Gweshe said. “I grew up with the said killer, he has always been a problem child… he loves machetes and [is] very dangerous so the matter deserves urgency.”
Despite intensified operations involving drones, canine units, and tactical teams, Zvitsva remains at large. Some villagers have questioned the effectiveness of the search, pointing out that the police’s circulated image of the suspect may be outdated. Tineyi Gweshe suggested community involvement could be key.
“That image could be from more than 15 years ago because he is now very different, he has a scar on his face,” Gweshe argued. “Maybe it would be better for them to engage village youths because these are the people who know what exactly he looks like now.”
The victims in the spate of attacks, which continued into late December 2024, include Grace Zvitsva (66), Loice Chiringaushe (37), Takudzwa Kariva (5), Tatenda Chirenje (2), Tendai Zvitsva (40), and siblings Pamela, Kudzai and Tawanda Chipangura. A 55-year-old woman and a six-month-old infant were also among those killed. *_-iHarare_*
