Edwin Moyo
Gweru- The Midlands province witnessed a bloody Christmas Day when five people were senselessly murdered on the day making it one of the worst in history.
The five now deceased are, Sydney Matsveru (21) of Musara Village under Chief Nhema in Shurugwi.
Elias Ncube (28) of Village Holland under Chief Malisa, Silobela .Thulani Ncube (36) of Nyamazana Village, Chief Njelele in Gokwe .Tawanda Musandipa (24)! of Mandava in Zvishavave and,Thulani Nyamalala (35) of Muchipe village under Chief Ntabeni, Zhombe.
One case occurred at around 2100 hours, the now deceased Sydney Matsveru was drinking beer at Tamuka Bar, Musavezi Business Centre, Shurugwi. A fellow patron in the bar Learnmore Mudzengi (36) who was playing a pool game, lost a token. He accused Matsveru of having taken the token, a misunderstanding ensued and they were refrained by other patrons.
Later, when the bar was about to close, Mudzengi allegedly went to where Matsveru was and stabbed him once on the chest.
Police attended the scene and arrested the suspect Learnmore Mudzengi.
In the second case at around 0500 hours, Elias Ncube was drinking beer in the company of Clinton Mlotshwa aged 24, Decent Mlotshwa aged 20, both of Village Matshaya Chief Sigodo, Silobela and Evidence Moyo aged 24 of Village Sigara Chief Sigodo, Silobela. They were attending a Christmas party at the homestead of one Amini Musindo aged 50 in the same area.
The three raised an alleged unresolved dispute which occurred sometime in 2023 with Elias Ncube and an altercation arose. Sensing danger Ncube ran away but the three chased after him.
They caught up with him and took turns to stab him with a Colombian knives all over the body. He died on the spot.
Police preliminary investigations led to the arrest of Evidence Moyo and Decent Mlotshwa.
The third case occurred at around 1100 hours. Thulani Ncube of Village Nyamazana Chief Njelele, Gokwe was drinking beer at Bomba Business Centre in the company of a friend Fairchild Chipungwa (38) also from the same village. They were approached by Davison Bvanyangu (40) of Marirahande Village Chief Njelele Gokwe who accused Chipungwa of bullying people around the area. A misunderstanding arose between the two. Ncube intervened trying to stop the scuffle and Chipungwa managed to run away with Bvanyangu in hot pursuit.
After failing to catch up with Chipungwa, Bvanyangu made a U-turn and faced Thulani Ncube who was also following behind. He stabbed him with a knife on the head and back. Ncube was rushed to Gokwe South District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In another case, a 24 year-old Tawanda Musandipa of Mandava in Zvishavane left home with a friend Inos Muroiwa of ZESA cottages, Zvishavane going for a beer drink at about 2100 hours. The duo did not return.
On 26 December 2024 at about 1200 hours, Tawanda was brought home in an unregistered Fun cargo vehicle in an unconscious state. He was handed to his young brother, a Juvenile aged 14 years. When the juvenile went to call their mother, she found the motor vehicle already gone.
Their mother sought a vehicle and carried Tawanda to Zvishavane Police Station to report the case. He was in turn, taken to Zvishavane District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
In yet another case, a 35 year-old Thulani Nyamalala of Village Muchipe Chief Ntabeni Zhombe was drinking beer at Zhombe Business Centre In the company of Learnmore Ncube (30) of Village Ncina, Chief Malisa, Zhombe.
The two were approached by Ayanda and Limukhani Nsingo, aged 28 and 30 respectively, both of Village 8 Chief Ntabeni, Zhombe.
