The Intermediate Prosecution Office of Musanze is handling the case of two men accused of killing a 55-year-old woman by hacking her with a machete.
The crime took place on April 29, 2025, in Nyakazenga village, Rutenderi cell, Mugunga sector, Gakenke District.
According to neighbors, the woman had gone to harvest sweet potatoes in her field. The two suspects ambushed her in a nearby banana plantation, where she was expected to pass.
The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) reports that the attackers repeatedly struck her on the head with a machete until she died, and they also chopped off one of her hands.
The alleged motive behind the killing stems from family conflicts. The suspects accused the woman of practicing witchcraft, claiming she had bewitched and caused the deaths of several relatives — prompting them to take revenge.
This crime is being prosecuted under Article 107 of Law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018, which defines crimes and general penalties in Rwanda. If convicted, the men face life imprisonment.
