While police are investigating the case as a robbery, the revelation that the only item stolen from the scene was a cellphone worth a mere US$10 has fueled intense speculation among family members and the public that the attack may have been a targeted assassination rather than a simple robbery gone wrong.

Chilling Details of the Attack Revealed

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has provided more detailed information about the attack, which occurred around 11 PM on August 17, 2025. A gang of seven armed suspects, wearing balaclavas and armed with pistols, claw bars, and hammers, stormed the Lisheen Estate farmhouse.

Mutangazi Murder Update

The assailants first subdued a security guard and the victim’s son, tying them up before forcibly breaking into Mutangadura’s bedroom. It was there that the businessman was shot multiple times in the stomach and chest. Both Joseph Mutangadura and his wife were rushed to Eden Hospital in Windsor, Ruwa, but he was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.

Motive Under Scrutiny: "They Were Not After the Money"

The minimal value of the stolen item has cast significant doubt on robbery as the primary motive. Speaking to the H-Metro tabloid, family members have openly expressed their suspicions that the attack was a premeditated hit.

"This incident has left us with more questions," one relative, who chose to remain anonymous, stated. "What is disturbing is that the gang was not after the money but the life of Joseph."

Further reports seem to support this theory. It is alleged that the intruders, upon arriving at the property, first asked a security guard for a detailed description of Mutangadura before proceeding with the attack, suggesting they were targeting a specific individual. Critically, sources claim the gang refused an offer to be led to an abattoir where a significant amount of cash was kept, choosing instead to shoot and kill the businessman. This refusal to pursue a valuable cash target is a key factor fueling the suspicion of a targeted assassination.

Police Investigation Continues Amidst Speculation

The police are continuing their official investigations under the dual charges of murder and robbery. Authorities have not yet identified any suspects but are reportedly investigating the true motive behind Joseph Mutangadura’s shocking murder, taking into account the new details and the family's concerns.

The Ruwa community remains on edge as they await further updates from the police. The brutal nature of the killing, combined with the puzzling lack of a clear robbery motive, has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, with many now believing that a more sinister plot may be behind the death of the well-known entrepreneur.