Convicted Armed Robber Claims Bees Ordered Him to Stay Silent During Murder Trial

MASVINGO – Convicted armed robber Daniel Munyanyi, who is currently serving a cumulative 185-year prison sentence for robbery-related offences, stunned the High Court last week when he refused to answer questions, claiming that bees had instructed him to remain silent.

Munyanyi (50) appeared before High Court Judge Christopher Dube-Banda on Thursday, facing two counts of murder arising from the fatal shooting of detectives Bernard Chindeke (38) and McKenzie Chitowe (42) in Zaka earlier this year. The accused allegedly shot and killed the two police officers on 1 March 2026 at Ndume Village under Chief Ndanga in Zaka District.

Court proceedings took an unusual turn when Munyanyi declined to respond to questions relating to the charges before him. According to court proceedings, he told Justice Dube-Banda that bees were stinging him and had instructed him to plead guilty to the murders before remaining silent.

Munyanyi claimed the bees would only leave him alone if he confessed to the killings and refrained from speaking further about the matter. When asked routine questions relating to his identity, age, and marital status, Munyanyi responded appropriately. However, he later claimed he did not know why he had been arrested or why he was appearing in court.

His court-appointed lawyer, Tatenda Nyoka, informed the court that he had been unable to obtain instructions from his client during a visit to Mutimurefu Prison because Munyanyi refused to engage with him. Justice Dube-Banda then asked Munyanyi directly why he had not communicated with his lawyer. In response, Munyanyi told the court:

"Ndikurumwa ne nyuchi nekuti ndakauraya vanhu. Pese pandinovhura muromo kuti nditaure nezve nyaya iyi nyuchi dzinondiruma dzichindiudza kuti ndinyarare uye kuti dzichandisiya ndakabvuma mhosva yekuuraya vanhu."

Translated, he claimed that bees were biting him whenever he attempted to discuss the murder allegations and would only stop if he admitted responsibility. The accused further warned that if he continued speaking, the bees would enter the courtroom and sting everyone present.

Following the unusual exchange, Nyoka applied for his client to undergo a psychiatric and medical evaluation to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial. Under Zimbabwean law, courts may order medical examinations where concerns arise regarding an accused person's mental capacity to understand proceedings or provide instructions to legal counsel.

The State, represented by prosecutor Mukai Mutumhe, did not oppose the application. Justice Dube-Banda granted the request and ordered that Munyanyi be examined by two medical practitioners who will assess his fitness to stand trial and report their findings to the court.

The murder charges relate to the deaths of detectives Chindeke and Chitowe, who were allegedly shot while carrying out their duties in Zaka. The allegations have not yet been tested during a full trial, and Munyanyi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence on the murder charges until proven guilty in court. The matter was postponed to 25 June 2026, when the court is expected to receive the medical reports and determine the next course of action.

Daniel Munyanyi murder trial