Call for calm after gruesome murder

UMZINGWANE – CHIEF Sinqobile Mbhena has pleaded for calm after a man from Esigodini was murdered by his cousin recently in a crime of passion.

The female traditional leader appealed to the affected community members to refrain from engaging in retaliatory attacks after one of their own was gruesomely murdered and had his body dismembered.

Addressing mourners at Moyo’s homestead in Tshakambeba Village in Ward 6, Jikiwola line, Chief Mabhena said members of the community should leave the case to the police.

“We are all aware of the pain you are going through as a family, but I urge you to remain calm and let the law take its course.

“It might take time, but the long arm of the law will catch up with the murderer,” said Chief Mabhena.

Police in Esigodini say they have launched a manhunt for a murder suspect who allegedly killed and chopped the victim in the full glare of the murder suspect’s wife.

The deceased, who is related to the murder suspect, was suspected of having an adulterous affair with the murder suspect’s wife.

Tshakambeba villagers in Ward 6 at Umzingwane District under Chief Mabhena were left shell-shocked after 49-year-old Sifelani Dube allegedly laid an ambush at his homestead and armed himself with an iron bar and an axe which he used to strike and chop the victim several times all over the body.

The now deceased, Ndodana Moyo, aged 34 and also from the same village, is believed to have been in love with Dube’s wife, a move that infuriated Dube.

The deceased died during the attack inside Dube’s hut before he was dragged outside. The wife assisted her husband to remove the body from the hut.

Police have since launched a manhunt for Dube, who disappeared after committing the crime.
Matabeleland South Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena, confirmed the incident.

“Police are hunting for a murder suspect, who brutally killed the victim after suspecting that he was having an affair with his wife.

“We received a murder case that occurred on January 10, 2024 at around 02.00hrs at Tshakambeka Village, under Chief Mabhena area.

“The deceased Moyo (34) and the murder suspect, Dube, are related as cousins and both live in the same area.

“Circumstances are that Dube who is a nomadic gold miner suspected that his wife was in a love affair with the deceased. He then laid an ambush and unknowingly, the deceased went to his lovers place in the middle of the night where he met his fate,” said Insp Mangena.

“Upon knocking on the door, the wife opened for her lover as instructed by the husband, who was hiding behind the door. As he entered, Dube hit Moyo with an iron bar and he fell down before tying his legs with barbed wire and ropes on hands.

“It was during this time when he then used an axe as an assault weapon to chop his head and all-over the body. Moyo died on spot.

“Dube then asked for the assistance of his wife to drag the body outside their hut before he disappeared into the darkness,” she added.

A neighbourhood watch officer, Bhekisisa Mpofu, also confirmed the gruesome murder of his neighbour.

“It is hard to believe that my neighbours have decided to take this route. After getting rumours that Sifelani was coming back for his cattle, ZRP ordered us to lay trap over night at his kraal, where we guarded till morning although to no avail.

“Some neighbours believe he packed his clothes and crossed the border into South Africa,” said Mpofu.

Another neighbour, Ngamulizwe Khumalo, said: “I cannot still believe that Ndodana is gone just like that. Two days ago he was helping me cultivate my crops and today he is no more.

“He might have had his shortcomings but did not deserve this kind of death.”

Police have since urged members of the community to avoid taking the law into their hands.

Instead, Insp Mangena advised those in such scenarios to seek advice and counselling from elders, churches, traditional leaders and police.

She also appealed for anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of Dube to inform the nearest police station.