Fidelis Chavarike
Post Reporter
TWO Chikanga men were last Thursday arrested after they allegedly murdered a habitual thief suspected of having stolen their brother’s cellphone and car keys.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, saying the deceased, Ryan Zindi, a known thief with a history of breaking into homes, had just been released from prison.
He said on March 12, Tedius Tarwakuona (26) reported a break-in at Chikanga Police Station in which he lost his cellphone and car keys.
“After asking around, Lincoln Kavhu (22), the complainant’s brother and his friends, Delan Mudiwa (26) and Athel Mukondyo (23), confronted Ryan Zindi on March 13, trying to recover the stolen property since they had gathered that he was in possession of the cellphone. Instead of handing him over to the authorities, they took him to Lincoln’s house where they brutally assaulted him with a hoe handle,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said Mudiwa and Mukondyo walked with him all over Chikanga beating him, trying to recover the stolen cellphone, but nothing was recovered.
The two returned back to Kavhu’s house with the suspect.
“The assault continued throughout the night, and the next morning, the informant and his accomplices took Zindi to Chikanga Police Station to hand him over. However, upon arrival, police discovered that Zindi had sustained severe injuries and was taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka advised the public against taking the law into their own hands.
“We strongly reject the act of mob justice that has led to the tragic death of Zindi. The law demands that suspects be handed over to the authorities, not taken into the hands of individuals. We urge the public to co-operate with the police, and allow the law to take its course,” he said.
Mudiwa and Mukondyo have since been arrested and charged with murder.
Investigations are in progress, while the police recovered the hoe handle used in the assault.
