A shocking incident that has left the Kwekwe community in disbelief, Priscah Saungweme, a 50-year-old self-employed woman from Masasa, reported a bizarre and tragic event involving her gardener, 19-year-old Panankosi Phiri.
According to a police memo dated September 18 from the Officer-in-Charge of Kwekwe Central, the details of the event unfold like a script from a Hollywood thriller, but they are all too real.
On Saturday evening around 8 p.m., Phiri displayed alarming signs of insanity. He took a knife and inflicted serious injuries on both of his hands.
Despite Saungweme’s attempts to intervene and assist him, his violent behavior escalated, making it impossible for her to help. In a distressing turn of events, Phiri self-mutilated further by completely severing his own manhood, wrapping it in bread before consuming it.
Phiri repeatedly called out for Saungweme’s 10-year-old granddaughter, Trinity, referring to her as his “wife.” This alarming behavior prompted Saungweme to contact the police, who quickly arrived at the scene and transported the injured man to Kwekwe General Hospital for urgent medical attention. Even while in the hospital, Phiri continued to call for Trinity, further raising concerns about his mental state.
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Four days later, Constable Dlodlo from the Victim Friendly Unit followed up on the case by inviting Saungweme and Trinity to the police station for interviews regarding Phiri’s condition and statements.
During these interviews, Trinity revealed a deeply troubling truth: Phiri had previously raped her. This revelation led to her being taken back to Kwekwe General Hospital for a medical examination to assess the situation further.
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Meanwhile, due to the severity of his injuries, Phiri was transferred to Gweru Provincial Hospital for advanced medical care. The entire incident has left the Kwekwe community stunned, grappling with the complexities of mental health issues and the harrowing implications of the allegations against Phiri.
The incident has sparked conversations about mental health awareness and the need for support systems within the community, as well as the importance of addressing sexual violence and its devastating effects on victims.
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