A MARONDERA man, Knowledge Kapesa (36), a convicted killer with a history of mental illness, has been arrested for stoning his father Emmanuel Kapesa (76) to death following a dispute over sweet potatoes.
Prior to brutally killing his father, Knowledge had a disturbing history of violence, marked by the heinous murder of his brother’s six-year-old son, Tashinga Kapesa, in 2016 for which he was convicted and served prison time before his unexpected release on Presidential amnesty.
During a recent visit to Marondera sources who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com revealed that Knowledge’s violent outburst was sparked by a dispute over sweet potatoes highlighting that the day before the incident, he had stolen his father’s bananas, and when his father confronted him about taking sweet potatoes, Knowledge became enraged.
He brutally attacked his father, beating him and then using stones to crush his skull.
The accused person’s aunt, Anastasia Chionerwa recalled the incident.
“He had stolen his father’s bananas the day before, and when his father confronted him about stealing sweet potatoes, he started beating him.
“When his father tried to run away, Knowledge picked up stones and hit him on the head, crushing his skull. His father died at the spot. It was a brutal and senseless act.”
His brother, Kesta Kapesa, revealed that in 2013, Knowledge had threatened to kill their father, saying he wanted freedom.
“We thought it was a joke, but now we realise he was serious. He had a history of mental disturbance, but we never thought it would lead to this,” he said
Kesta also revealed that in 2016 when killing Tashinga, their brother’s son, Knowledge had bound the young boy’s hands and thrown him into Nyamhunga Dam without provocation.
“He lied to Tashinga, saying they were going to fetch maize, but instead, he tied him with a rope and threw him into the water and he drowned.
“The next day, divers recovered Tashinga’s lifeless body, a heart-wrenching discovery that would haunt the family forever.
“Despite being taken into custody, Knowledge was shockingly released under the Presidential Amnesty, a decision that would later have devastating consequences, ultimately allowing him to claim another victim, his own father.
“We were shocked when he was released. We had reported his threats to Marondera police, but they said there was no space at the mental health facility.
“We knew he was a danger to society, but our warnings fell on deaf ears,” Kesta added.
Judith Kahwemba, Knowledge’s elder aunt, pleaded with the government to check offenders’ records before releasing them.
“Murderers should not be released; they are a threat to society,” she said. — NewZimbabwe
