The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
FIVE Chipinge villagers who played Good Samaritans and intervened to stop a fellow villager from assaulting his grandmother are facing murder charges after they allegedly took the law into their hands and fatally assaulted him.
Upon realising that they had committed a serious crime, the suspects took the deceased’s body to a nearby dam, tied it to a big stone and threw it into the dam to conceal the crime.
Detectives in Chipinge have since arrested two suspects in connection with Munyaradzi Gwenzi’s murder after a villager found his body floating in the dam, days after he had gone missing.
Sthembinkosi Hlungupi (21) and Charles Mlambo (24), both of Chindedzwa Village under Chief Gwenzi’s area are now assisting police with investigations.
The hunt is on for Sifelani Hlungupi (33), Justin Mlambo (32) and Brian Chidhukwana (31) of Mariseta Village who have since disappeared.
CID Chipinge officer-in-charge, Detective Assistant Inspector Daniel Mhini, confirmed the murder which happened on February 20 at Muzite in Chipinge East.
“We can confirm that on February 20, the late Munyaradzi Gwenzi assaulted his grandmother, Chigumbeze Gwenzi following an altercation.
“The deceased assaulted her in the presence of Selina Kisimana who sought the assistance of other villagers. However, the five suspects who came to help took sjamboks and assaulted Munyaradzi all over the body. They force-marched him to his grandmother’s homestead saying they wanted to get more information on the alleged assault case,” he said.
Det Asst Insp Mhini said when they arrived at the grandmother’s homestead, the deceased had been badly injured and his face was swollen.
“The suspects later left the grandmother’s homestead with the intention of handing over the deceased to police at Mandere Police Post.
“On their way, they went to Muyambo Tuck Shop at Muzite Business Centre where they took turns to further assault Munyaradzi until he lost consciousness. He subsequently died.
“The suspects then hatched a plan to conceal the murder. One of them used his motor vehicle, a Toyota Noah to facilitate the disposal of Munyaradzi’s body,” he said and added:
“The suspects drove to Smaldale Dam at Jersey Tea Estate. At the dam, they used a rope to tie a stone weighing 23,5kgs around the deceased’s waist. They then threw the body into the dam. They lied to other villagers the following day that the Munyaradzi had run away on their way to the police.
“The truth came out on February 22 when Munyaradzi’s body was discovered floating in the dam in an advanced state of decomposition. Investigations led to the arrest of Hlungupi and Mlambo.”
Det Asst Insp Mhini said anyone with information concerning the murder should contact Superintendent Muzadzi on 0774 848 037 or the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Tavaya on 0772 728 164 or CID Chipinge on 0227-2411.
