shloboe boe
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw
POLICE in Matabeleland North have arrested four suspects, including three teenagers, for the murder of a fellow villager in Maboleni Village, Nyamandlovu in Umguza District under Chief Deli last month.
The four accused, Ayanda Siziba (17), Mlondolozi Ndlovu (23), Malvin Ncube (18), and Sandile Mnkandla (17), were arrested by Nyamandlovu police for the murder of Kelvin Mloyi (27), who died from injuries sustained following an assault with a log.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda, said Nyamandlovu police received a murder report on December 23 from an informant who found Mloyi lying dead at his homestead after being assaulted by the accused persons with a log on December 22.
Circumstances are that on December 22 at around 6PM, the now deceased was on his way home from a church service in the company of 17-year-old George Nxumalo while the four accused persons were following them.
Nxumalo, who was carrying a plastic bag with some maize seeds, placed it on the ground, and the two rested under a tree. As the four accused persons were passing where Mloyi and Nxumalo were sitting, Mlondolozi Ndlovu pretended as if he wanted to kick the maize seed bag, which angered Mloyi. The four accused persons then proceeded to Stand 11 Maboleni Village 1.
As Mloyi and his colleague were passing through the four accused persons’ homestead, Mloyi hurled insults at the accused persons, but they did not react.
“On the same date at around 1900 hours, when Mloyi was heading to his place of residence, he passed by Stand 11 and insulted the accused persons again. They all came out of the homestead and followed him.
Sensing danger, Mloyi ran into his homestead where he armed himself with an axe, but the accused persons disarmed him. Siziba picked up a wooden log at the gate and hit him once on the head, causing him to fall to the ground,” said Inspector Banda.
The four accused left him lying in his yard before returning a few minutes later, where they found him bleeding profusely. Siziba and Ndlovu fetched water and cleaned Mloyi’s head, took his shirt, and bandaged the wound while the other two accused, Malvin Ncube and Sandile Mnkandla, stood aside.
Afterwards, the four accused left the now deceased alone in his yard.
“On 23 December 2024, around 0700 hours, Mloyi was found lying face down showing no signs of life by the informant, who then informed other villagers and later made a report at ZRP Nyamandlovu. Police attended the scene and arrested the four accused persons. The wooden log used was recovered at the scene,” said Inspector Banda.
He said police inspected the body and observed deep cuts on the head and chin, as well as bruises on the left side of the stomach.
In another disturbing incident, police in Lupane have launched a manhunt for three suspects wanted in connection with an attempted murder case that occurred on 2 January at Cross Feya Business Centre in Lupane.
The three, Alfred Sibanda, Bhekisisa Sibanda, and Dumoluhle Moyo, allegedly struck Master Sibanda of Makhovula Village under Chief Mabhikwa once on the head with a machete, pierced him once on the left side of his hip, and once on the lower left limb with a spear.
“On 2 January at around 0001 hours, the complainant was at Cross Feya Business Centre when he was approached by the accused persons who were armed with a spear and machetes. Alfred flashed the complainant with a torch in the face while accusing him of protecting his younger brother, with whom he had a misunderstanding earlier,” said Inspector Banda.
He said Bhekisisa struck the complainant once on the head with a machete, causing him to fall to the ground. While on the ground, Dumoluhle pierced the complainant once on the left side of the hip and once on the lower left limb with a spear.
After the brutal attack, the trio fled from the scene after seeing a group of people approaching, leaving the complainant lying on the ground bleeding profusely. The complainant was taken to St Luke’s Hospital for treatment, where he was admitted, and his condition is serious.
Inspector Banda said the accused persons are at large and investigations are underway.
“We implore citizens to desist from taking the law into their own hands. Violence does not bring closure to social issues that affect us but only worsens the situation. The law will always take its course; murderers will go behind bars, leaving their families behind to suffer,” he said.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
