Masvingo Man Murdered

A 56-year-old Masvingo man is believed to have been murdered by unknown assailants before his body was thrown into a 5-metre deep well, as police continue to express concern over murder cases countrywide.

The incident occurred at Muungani Village under headman Ndahwi in Gutu. Police said Pianos Muungani’s body was found with some injuries on the back of the head.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said no arrests had been made.

“Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a suspected murder case which occurred between November 25 and 27 at Muungani Village, headman Ndahwi, Gutu in Masvingo in which Pianos Muungani aged 56 was found dead in a 5m deep well with some sharp object injuries on the back of the head,” he said.

“Tashinga Muungani aged 32 who is his son, left the victim at home going to the grazing land, upon return he failed to locate his father. A search was conducted with the assistance of the local villagers leading to the recovery of the body.”

Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland South arrested Austin Khumalo (19) in connection with a case of attempted murder which occurred last Friday at around 0700hrs at Tuli River, Sezhubane, Guyu.

The suspect was panning for gold with the complainant, Meluleki Makwelo (26), when the complainant approached him asking for his R100 which the suspect owed, but the suspect told the complainant that he had no money.

“The complainant then discovered that the suspect was armed with an okapi knife in his pocket and tried to disarm him,” said Asst Comm Phiri. “A scuffle ensued and in the process the suspect stabbed the complainant with the knife once on the elbow and twice on the chest. Investigations are in progress.”

Police in Gwanda are also investigating a murder case in which Jabulani Ncube (36) died last Thursday while admitted at Gwanda Provincial Hospital after being attacked by Tawanda Kanda (35) and Enerst Page (53) last Wednesday at Phakhama Business Centre.

Jabulani Ncube struck Tawanda Kanda with an empty beer bottle on the head after an argument emanating from a previous scuffle between the two. Enerst Page then intervened and hit Jabulani Ncube with a stone on the head before Tawanda Kanda retaliated and attacked Jabulani Ncube with booted feet.

Last week, police expressed concern over an increase in murder and attempted murder cases which also involve children countrywide, as they continue to urge the public to value the sanctity of human life and to resolve differences amicably. In some cases, police said children were also involved in such cases.

Last Monday, a three-year-old girl, Sheila Sithole was stabbed with a knife by an unknown assailant for unknown reasons at Nyamuyambuka Village in Shamva.

“On the said date, Peter Sithole and Sheilah Rusambo (26) who are the victim’s parents, went to Nyamuyaruka River for gold panning leaving behind Selina Sithole and her brother Tinotenda Sithole (six) playing at the homestead,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“At around 1100hours, the unknown suspect approached the children and Tinotenda Sithole ran away with Selina Sithole on his back. The suspect caught up with Tinotenda Sithole and snatched Selina Sithole from his back.

“He withdrew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Selina Sithole on her back before throwing her hard on the ground.”

Asst Comm Nyathi said after the incident, the suspect took a bucket of water and poured on the victim who later died.

Meanwhile, a seven-year-old Harare boy was seriously injured after being stabbed twice on the abdomen, once on the spine and once on the palm by a man who had accompanied the boyfriend of the victim’s mother over the weekend in Southlea Park.

“On the day in question, the suspect visited the victim’s place of residence in the company of a man commonly known as “Dread” (believed to be boyfriend to victim’s mother). The mother of the victim left home with “Dread” and left the victim with the suspect,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“The suspect asked the victim to accompany him to the nearby tuck-shop and along the way, at an open space in Southview Park, Waterfalls, Harare, the suspect attacked the victim with an unknown sharp object.

“The suspect fled from the scene when the victim cried for help and the victim was rescued by a passerby.”

In another case, police in Chinhoyi are investigating a murder case in which Lloyd Sakala (27) died while admitted at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital after he was attacked with a wooden log on the head by Sailous Jazire (24) at Alaska Business Centre.

Sakala had tried to refrain the suspect from assaulting his nephew Christopher Pendani (38).

Police in Guruve are also investigating another murder case, in which Jefta Murima (42) died after being admitted at Bindura Provincial Hospital on October 22 after being struck with a brick by a suspect identified as Isa Napazo on October 18 at Gan’a business centre.

The two had a fight after Jefta Murima refrained Isa Napazo from assaulting his young brother Alfred Murima (18).

“In a related case, police in Masvingo arrested a suspected mental patient, Moses Jimu aged 23 for a murder case in which he struck his father, Ndichinani Jimu aged 60 with an iron bar on the head on October 24 at Village 1, Mkazi, Bikita,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

He urged the public to resolve differences through dialogue, counselling and arbitration by community leaders, relatives and local police stations. Herald