Beheadings on the rise in Bulawayo during World Cup

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation radio says that since the start of the Fifa World Cup there have been numerous claims of beheadings and kidnappings.

They say a man was recently arrested at the Plumtree border post with cooler boxes filled with human heads.

Two other children from Bulawayo’s Pumula East suburb only managed to escape their abductor when his car ran out of fuel.

In another incident, eyewitnesses say police had to fire shots to disperse angry crowds in Magwegwe suburb on Friday night.

A 21-year old man had been arrested for cutting off the head of his one-year old nephew and residents wanted the man to say which syndicate was paying him.

Although the apparent link with the World Cup is not clear.

There is speculation that more visitors to South Africa may mean more business – or perhaps those involved in ritual killing think the police have their minds on other matters.

Locals say there is a belief that if a human head is fed to a shark or a whale, it will result in riches for the person who paid for it.

For now, parents are watching their children carefully.

At least one school in Bulawayo is so worried by the reports that it has sent out a circular asking parents to accompany their children to and from lessons.