Fresh Details Emerge After Missing Priest Found Dead at Parirenyatwa

By Staff Reporter | Harare

Fresh details have emerged following the death of Roman Catholic priest Father Regis Chikuni, whose disappearance triggered a search by the Archdiocese of Harare before his body was discovered at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary.

Father Chikuni, 58, was reported missing on September 5, prompting the Archdiocese to appeal to priests, religious communities and members of the public for information about his whereabouts. Four days later, on September 9, the church confirmed that he had been found dead at the Parirenyatwa mortuary.

In a death notice issued through Archbishop Robert C. Ndlovu’s secretary, Father Ephraim Murwira, the Archdiocese described the death as a profound loss to the Catholic community.

“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we announce the passing on of our beloved brother, Father Regis Chikuni,” Murwira said in the notice.

The church said Father Chikuni’s pastoral service and contribution to the community would remain remembered and urged Catholics to unite in prayer during the period of mourning. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced separately. Reports have since emerged suggesting that Father Chikuni may have been involved in a road accident shortly before his death.

According to information attributed to police sources, the priest is believed to have been struck by a Honda Fit while attempting to cross the road near the intersection of Prince Edward Road and Samora Machel Avenue in Harare. The incident is being treated as a suspected hit-and-run, although police have not yet publicly released a detailed account establishing the circumstances of the collision.

One of the reported difficulties in identifying the priest was that he allegedly had no identification documents on him when the incident occurred. His body was subsequently taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where it remained unidentified while family members, friends and church colleagues were searching for him. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Current reporting by NewsDay and other Zimbabwean outlets confirms that the Archdiocese had reported Father Chikuni missing and later confirmed that his body had been found at the hospital mortuary. However, the church's public statements have not disclosed how he died.

The reported road accident therefore remains an important line of inquiry rather than an established account of his death. Father Chikuni was a senior priest in the Archdiocese of Harare and had served in different pastoral roles, including at Holy Rosary Parish in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central. His disappearance had caused concern among members of the Catholic community, with the Archdiocese appealing for information and asking the faithful to pray for his safe return.

The confirmation of his death brought the search to a tragic end. The case has also raised questions about the identification and tracking of accident victims who are admitted to hospitals without identity documents, particularly where relatives are unaware of an accident involving their loved ones. Police are expected to provide further information as investigations continue, including details of the alleged road accident and efforts to identify the vehicle reportedly involved.

For now, the Archdiocese is mourning the loss of a priest it described as a dedicated servant whose pastoral work had left a lasting impression on the communities he served. The church has urged members of the faithful to support one another as funeral and burial arrangements are finalised.

Father Regis Chikuni