MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU–A 38-year-old Gweru man was fatally stabbed while trying to break up a fight between his friend and another patron during a beer drinking session at The Ban Nightclub in the city centre in the early hours of Sunday.
The Midlands province police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Peter Mashate (38) of Clifton Park suburb a prominent driver with a funeral parlour.
“Police in Gweru are investigating a case of murder in which a man died after being stabbed while attempting to stop a misunderstanding between his friend and another man,” said Mahoko.
According to police, Mashate and his friend Munashe Magura (22) were drinking beer at the nightclub around midnight when Magura got into a quarrel with another man over ice blocks.
Mashate reportedly intervened to calm the situation, prompting the other man to flee.
The two friends later decided to drive home, but along the way Mashate lost consciousness while seated in the driver’s seat.
Believing his friend had passed out from drunkenness, Magura moved him to the passenger seat and drove to their Clifton Park residence.
Upon arrival, Magura noticed bloodstains on his trousers and, upon checking, discovered that Mashate was bleeding from the stomach and unresponsive.
Police officers from ZRP Monomotapa attended the scene and confirmed Mashate’s death.
His body was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Inspector Mahoko said investigations were underway and appealed to members of the public with information leading to the arrest of the suspect to contact the nearest police station.
“Anyone with information that can assist in locating the suspect is urged to report to any nearest police station,” he said.
Meanwhile, mourners are gathered at his parents’ homestead in Mtapa high density suburbs.
