MARTIN MAWAYA
KWEKWE—A dispute over allegedly stolen clothes ended in bloodshed when a man was stabbed to death with an okapi knife near a Roman Catholic Church in Newtown, Kwekwe in the early hours of Wednesday, police have confirmed.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said the murder occurred on February 18, 2026, at around 12:30am, and that the suspect was arrested within hours following swift investigations by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The deceased was identified as Future Makupe, also known as Chikule, of Village Chidoma in the Chitekete area of Gokwe.
Police have arrested Liberman Ncube, also known as Likwa (31), of Village Mganga in Kwekwe, in connection with the killing.
According to police, a passerby discovered the victim’s body lying in a pool of blood near the church and immediately alerted officers.
Police attended the scene and launched investigations that pointed to Ncube as the prime suspect.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim following an altercation over the theft of some clothes,” Mahoko said.
Follow-up investigations led to the suspect’s arrest at about 6am the same day.
A bloodstained okapi knife was recovered from the suspect and has been recorded as an exhibit.
Mahoko urged members of the public to resolve disputes peacefully and avoid resorting to violence.
Police have also appealed to anyone with information related to the murder to contact the ZRP in Kwekwe as investigations continue.
