WATCH LIVE: Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Found Dead

Father Regis Chikuni

• 58-year-old senior priest in the Archdiocese of Harare.

• Known for leading charismatic groups.

• Went missing and was later found dead at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

• No official cause or circumstances of death released by the church, police, or hospital.

Timeline

• 5 September 2026: Fr. Chikuni reported missing.

  • Archdiocese appeals to priests, religious communities, and the public for information.

• 7–8 September 2026: Social media posts circulate public appeals.

  • Contact number given: 0787 280 146.

  • Described as a Catholic priest who led charismatic groups.

• 9 September 2026, Wednesday:

  • Archdiocese reports the missing-person case to police.

  • Archdiocese confirms he was found deceased at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

  • Confirmation came via a death notice from Fr. Ephraim Murwira, secretary to Archbishop Robert C. Ndlovu.

  • Church describes him as a committed priest.

  • Church says it takes comfort in faith that he has “returned to the loving embrace of our Lord.”

  • Funeral arrangements pending.

• 10 September 2026:

  • News outlets report the confirmation.

  • Public reactions include condolences and unverified claims of foul play.

  • Some social media users urge the public not to speculate until official information is released.

• As of 11 September 2026:

  • No official cause of death released.

  • No details on how his body reached the mortuary released.

  • Archdiocese asks for prayers for his family and parishioners.

Background and Clarification

• March 2017: While serving at Holy Rosary parish in Mvurwi, Fr. Chikuni reported being robbed and attacked in his room by two men.

  • This incident is unrelated to the 2026 events.

• Identity clarification:

  • Father Regis Chikuni is a different person from Father Mark Chikuni.

  • Father Mark Chikuni is a Redemptorist parish priest at St Gerard in Harare.

  • Father Mark Chikuni is publicly associated with Chiwenga, having presided over his Catholic guild induction ceremonies in 2025.

  • Nothing ties Father Regis Chikuni personally to Chiwenga.

Key Events for Today

• Planned programme:

  • Arrive in China on Tuesday, 8 or 9 September 2026.

  • Lead a delegation including members of the Zimbabwean business community.

  • Attend the 13th China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), held 9–13 September 2026 at Shougang Park in Beijing.

  • Attend and address the 2026 Xiongan Digital Trade Innovation and Development Conference in Xiongan, near Beijing.

  • Travel to Zhejiang Province, specifically Wenzhou and Hangzhou, for company tours and investor engagements.

  • Address the Zimbabwe-China Business Forum in Hangzhou.

  • Meet Chinese government officials.

  • Engage potential investors on value-addition, beneficiation, digital trade, manufacturing, and related sectors.

  • Later coverage noted planned site visits to Chinese companies with existing Zimbabwe operations, including Huayou Cobalt and Tsingshan Holding Group.

  • No more detailed day-by-day public schedule was released beyond this outline.

Top Trending

• Mafu describes Muduva as her best friend, mentor, “fellow board member,” and brother.

• She says he regularly confided in her about problems in his marriage and that she tried to support him.

• She writes that she missed his calls on the Tuesday night of the fatal incident and now regrets not answering.

• Mafu does not name the board they served on together.

• Public records still do not identify a shared organisation.

• Her known public role is as director of her own company.

• Muduva’s documented roles were:

  • ZHRC commissioner.

  • MSU lecturer.

  • Baker Tilly manager.

  • POTRAZ committee member.

Africa

• Chiwenga arrives in China.

Bloggers

• Esther.

Notes – Main Story: Makokoba Emerging as Drug Hotspot

• Makokoba, a high-density suburb of Bulawayo, is becoming a drug-abuse hotspot.

• Two major police operations hit the suburb on consecutive days: 4 and 5 September.

• Operation 1 – 4 September:

  • CID Drugs and Narcotics detectives were on surveillance along 7th Street.

  • Observed 11 people, 9 men and 2 women, smoking dagga inside a barber shop.

  • All 11 were arrested.

  • Included former Highlanders / FC Platinum / CAPS United star and 2019 Soccer Star of the Year Joel Ngodzo, 36.

  • All pleaded guilty and were fined US$200 to US$300.

  • Prison terms hang over them if they fail to pay.

  • One accused, Aaron Phiri, told court: “Dagga makes me run, I feel better and can have a peaceful sleep at night.”

• Operation 2 – 5 September, latest bust:

  • 36-year-old woman Monalisa Sindisiwe Cheche arrested around 5am at her home in Makokoba.

  • Arrest confirmed by police spokesperson Asst Insp Thandekile Ndlovu.

  • Based on a tip-off that she was in possession of dangerous drugs.

  • Detectives found her in her bedroom, identified themselves, then searched.

  • Found 5 transparent sachets of suspected crystal methamphetamine in the pocket of the jacket she was wearing.

  • She failed to produce a licence or permit to possess the drugs.

  • She was arrested and the drugs were seized.

  • Recovered meth weighed 2 grams with an estimated street value of ZWG750.

• Official response:

  • Bulawayo Magistrate Themba Chimiso warned Zimbabwe is in a “war against drugs.”

  • Police say operations are part of relentless efforts to disrupt possession and distribution of dangerous drugs in Bulawayo.

  • Part of national policy: Zimbabwe National Drug Master Plan and Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024–2030.

  • Plan targets: supply reduction, demand reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, harm reduction, community reintegration, and law enforcement.

• Scale of national crackdown:

  • February 2025: Police said 10,000+ people arrested and 50+ drug dens dismantled nationwide since the start of that year.

  • January–April 2024: 6,148 arrested, including 677 alleged suppliers and 5,471 end-users.

• Health warnings:

  • Crystal meth: raises heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

  • Repeated use can cause addiction, severe dental problems, memory and brain-function changes, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis.

  • High doses can cause seizures, stroke, heart attack, and death.

  • Dagga/cannabis: not a harmless “sleeping medicine.”

  • It impairs learning, memory, attention, and coordination.

  • Prolonged use can lead to dependence and worsen mental-health problems in vulnerable people.

• Concern is acute among young people.

• It threatens education, employment, family stability, and a productive future.

Business / Chinese Cars

• Competitively priced Chinese brands — Haval, Jetour, Omoda, Chery, Baic — have caused a structural change in South Africa’s car market.

• Market share of Chinese imports jumped from about 10% in 2021 to over 20% by 2025.

• TransUnion Q1 data: 20% of vehicles sold in SA were Chinese brands.

• Industry sales overall up 15% to 632,997 units since June 2025.

• Impact on used cars and finance:

  • Pressure on secondhand car prices as consumers opt for cheaper new Chinese cars instead.

  • A consumer with R400k today has far more options than 3 years ago.

  • WesBank, owned by FirstRand, says 6 out of every 10 vehicles it now finances are Chinese brands.

  • WesBank / FirstRand increased its provision for losses on repossessed vehicles sold, to mirror falling resale values.

  • FirstRand CEO Mary Vilakazi: “Prices have come down structurally… The dynamics in the resale market have changed a lot.”

  • Motus, SA’s largest showroom, reported a 200% surge in uptake of Asian brands.

• WesBank’s response:

  • Partnered with several Chinese brands through supplier and dealer alliance agreements.

  • Says partnerships allow it to participate in expansion of Chinese OEMs while maintaining origination quality and dealer relationships.

  • Positioning itself to cash in on the popularity.

• The bigger trade picture:

  • SA’s vehicle trade deficit with BRICS partners China and India hit R90bn last year.

  • Deficit with China alone: R57.7bn.

  • SA exports raw or semi-processed commodities to China, such as platinum, chromium ore, and gold.

  • China exports finished, high-value goods to SA, such as vehicles, electronics, and industrial components.

  • India is also widening its vehicle trade gap with SA after Tata Motors re-entered the SA passenger market last year via Motus.

  • The EU remains the indispensable market for SA-made vehicles.

  • SA car manufacturing accounts for 22.6% of manufacturing output and about 460,000 highly skilled direct jobs.

  • Almost all Chinese brands are currently fully imported.

  • Chery plans to retrofit a plant in Rosslyn to start local production by end-2027.