Zimbabwe Man Arrested For Trying To Sell Human Foetus As Beef In Harare

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in Harare’s Central Business District for allegedly attempting to sell a human foetus while claiming it was beef.

The suspect, identified as Stelly Marecha, was taken into custody on Friday, July 4, 2025, after concerned members of the public reported his suspicious behaviour.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, Marecha reportedly retrieved the foetus from a rubbish bin located at the intersection of Mbuya Nehanda and Albion Streets. The remains were wrapped in a black plastic bag.

Police say he then approached a 27-year-old man, offering to sell him the contents of the bag under the pretence that it was meat.

“Police in Harare arrested Stelly Marecha (19) in connection with a case of violating a corpse. The suspect allegedly picked a human foetus, which was wrapped in a black plastic bag in a bin at the corner of Mbuya Nehanda and Albion Streets, Harare CBD. He attempted to sell the remains to a 27-year-old man, claiming that it was beef,” the police statement read.

Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine the source of the foetus and are appealing to the public for any information that may lead to the arrest of the individual responsible for dumping it.

“The ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect responsible for disposing of the foetus,” the statement added.

The shocking incident has ignited outrage across Zimbabwean social media, where many expressed horror at the grisly discovery. Some users voiced renewed concern about food safety and buying meat from informal vendors, while others reacted with dark humour, describing the incident as “boiled witchcraft.”

Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest authorities.