Mob assault turns fatal

MUTARE-A 22-year-old man, Morgan Njanji Manyere from Magudura village,
Chief Nyashanu was recently murdered by a mob of 11 for allegedly stealing a
mobile phone.

Manyere was suspected of stealing the phone at Chingombe Business Centre
from one of the murder suspects, Tawanda Masa.

Acting Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka
confirmed the incident in which Manyere was battered to death for failing to
produce the lost cellphone.

“Masa lost his Itel A 56 cellphone at Chingombe and suspected Manyere to
have stolen it from him. Masa teamed up with three other people and dragged
Manyere to a nearby bush where they assaulted him while instructing him to
produce the cellphone,” said Ass Insp Chinyoka.

Manyere denied all allegations and the four continued assaulting him hoping
that he would surrender the phone.

The four dragged Manyere to an illegal diamond mine shaft 3km away from the
business centre where seven other people joined in assaulting him.

“Manyere later surrendered and admitted that he had thrown the cellphone
down the shaft. The gang of 11 then proceeded to rope Manyere and throw him
down the shaft to retrieve the device,” added Ass Insp Chinyoka.

After failing to retrieve the cellphone from the shaft, Manyere was further
assaulted until he fell unconscious and died on the spot.

The 11suspects immediately fled the scene.

Manyere’s uncle was later informed of the assault when he went in search of his
nephew only to find his body near the mineshaft.

Eight of the suspected murderers have since been arrested with three more still
on the run.

The incident has raised concerns within the community, as the alleged murder
involved a group.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter to identify and apprehend
the remaining suspects.

Ass Insp Chinyoka urged members of the public to desist from taking the law
into their own hands but allow the authorities to deal with such cases.