FARAI CHITOTOMBE
MASVINGO – In a resemblance to a “Soap Opera” movie, three good Samaritans men who helped to apprehend two alleged thieves who were involved in burglary at Shindi Business Centre are now facing murder charges for killing one of the robbers.
The robber, Tichaona Dayana (23) of Muperi Village under Chief Shindi in Chivi is said to have succumbed to heavy beating that was unleashed by the good Samaritans on October 5 this year at Shindi Business Centre.
Deputy Police spokesperson for Masvingo Province, Assistant Inspector, Lorine Chanakira Ndhlovu said Kudakwashe Chomunakira (28) from Gwaza Village in Chivi, Tichaona Mahembe (29) of Nyahombe resettlement and Perfect Zvizvidzano (26) of Takura Village under Chief Shindi are being implicated in the murder case.
Ndhlovu said that on the 5th of October at around 3am at Shindi Business Centre in Chivi, Phillis Chakanyuka (20) a shopkeeper heard some noise coming from her shop while she was in bed.
Chakanyuka found out that Dayana had broken a window to gain entry into the room and took four by 2kgs OMO washing powder and a pair of headphones.
Dayana passed on the loot to his colleague, Reliance Zindoga (20) of Zungura Village, under Chief Shindi in Chivi. Chakanyuka cried for help and the three young men came to her rescue.
The three apprehended Zindoga while Dayana escaped with the goods. The good Samaritans beat Zindoga with whipping sticks all over his body until he accompanied them to Dayana’s home where they found him and recovered the stolen goods after they had severely beaten him several times over the body.
The same day around 9 a.m. the three young men hired a car and carried Dayana and Zindoga to Ngundu police station and filed a report.
The Police interviewed the two thieves and also realized they had been beaten excessively.
Dayana was swollen all over the body and breathing with difficulties while Zindoga had bruises on his thighs, legs and right arm, but had difficulties walking.
The police took them to Ngundu Hospital for medication but unfortunately, Dayana was announced dead on arrival and Zindoga was referred to Chivi District Hospital and admitted in a very serious condition.
The body of Dayana was sent to Masvingo Hospital for postmortem while further investigations are being carried out.
The police have since warned the general public to desist from taking the law into their own hands.
“We advise the public not to take matters into their own hands and report theft matters to the police as soon as they catch thieves,” said ZRP Masvingo Provincial spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa.
