MSU student, 25, shot dead at point-blank range by ex-husband in Gweru

A 25-year-old Midlands State University (MSU) student was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range by her ex-husband in Gweru on Thursday afternoon.

The student was shot once in the forehead at around 5.30 pm on 9 October 2026 at her residence at Number 1082, Senga KMP.

The suspect, who is a director at a Bulawayo-based security company, is on the run. He allegedly fled in a silver-grey Toyota Wish after threatening other students at the house.

According to a leaked police memorandum, the ex-husband visited the student at around 3 pm. A misunderstanding reportedly arose about two-and-a-half hours later.

“The accused then shot the now deceased once on the forehead using an unknown pistol,” the report says.

Other MSU students staying at the same house rushed out of their rooms after hearing the gunshot. They were allegedly threatened by the suspect, who warned that he would shoot them.

“He reportedly confiscated their mobile phones and threw them into a toilet chamber before locking them in a room where the lifeless body lay,” the report says. The suspect then fled, leaving the students locked in the room with the body.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident.

“ZRP confirms a murder case which occurred in KMP, Senga residential suburb on 9 October 2026 at about 5pm. The now deceased, a student at MSU, was shot dead and her ex-husband is being suspected,” he told the Chronicle.

He referred further questions to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

Police attended the scene with detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department and Scenes of Crime officers from Gweru. The body was found lying face upwards in a pool of blood. The student was dressed in pink pyjamas with a gunshot wound to the forehead.

A 6.25mm cartridge was recovered from the floor, along with a broken Itel mobile phone and a Samsung Galaxy A05S.