LOVEMORE MUCHONO APPEARS IN COURT, REMANDED TO 29 OCTOBER

By Personage Moyo

Former Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 19 councillor Lovemore Muchono appeared in court on Thursday for his initial remand hearing following his handover to police earlier this week, according to information published by Lowveld Checkpoint.

Muchono is facing allegations linked to the death of four-year-old Steadfast Makondo, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) learner who died in Chiredzi on 27 January 2026. He is expected to return to court on 29 October 2026.

According to Lowveld Checkpoint, Muchono was represented by lawyer Charles Vhudzi of Vhudzi Law and Company, who reportedly accompanied his client to Chiredzi Police Station on Tuesday afternoon.

LAWYER DISPUTES POLICE ACCOUNT OF HANDOVER

The report provides a different account of how Muchono came into police custody, contrasting with a police statement reportedly circulated by several media outlets.

According to the police statement quoted in the Lowveld Checkpoint report, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Chiredzi received information that Muchono was staying at the homestead of Solomon Muchono in Chief Garahwa, Chipinge. Police reportedly said they acted on the information and arrested him at around midday on Tuesday.

However, Vhudzi disputed this account, saying his client had contacted him earlier that morning expressing his intention to surrender to the police and seeking legal advice.

The lawyer reportedly said he travelled to Vheneka at around midday, where he met Muchono and his mother. He then explained the process to the family before contacting the investigating officer, Detective Constable Albert Nyabadza, to inform him that he was bringing his client to Chiredzi Police Station.

According to Vhudzi's account, they arrived at the station at 1:23 pm and found the investigating officer waiting for them, after which Muchono was taken into police custody.

“Muchono was never arrested by the Police. I personally accompanied him to the Police. Whoever issued that statement is misinformed,” Vhudzi was quoted as saying.

The lawyer further argued that his client's reported voluntary surrender could be considered a mitigating factor in the legal proceedings.

BACKGROUND TO THE CASE

Muchono had been sought by police in connection with the alleged rape and murder of Steadfast Makondo, who was four years old at the time of her death.

Earlier reports attributed to police alleged that the child had been entrusted to Muchono for transport to and from school before the incident on 27 January 2026.

His reported surrender on Tuesday, 13 October, marked a new development in the case, which had attracted public attention following the police appeal for information about his whereabouts.

As proceedings continue, the court process is expected to address the allegations against Muchono in accordance with the law. He remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

THE FRONTLINE — Connecting People Through Information.

Source: Lowveld Checkpoint. The account of the handover and the conflicting descriptions of how Muchono entered police custody are attributed to the source and the statements quoted in its report.

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