Harare, (New Ziana) –The High Court in Hwange, Matabeleland North province has sentenced two men who axed an 89-year-old beer drinking partner and later burnt his body to conceal evidence to 25 years in prison.

Events Ncube (31) and Keylop Ncube (22) struck Sibusisiwe Dube (89) dead with an axe on April 1 last year around for unknown reasons and later burnt his body in a kitchen hut to try and conceal the evidence, according to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ).

The men and their victim were drinking beer together at Maphosa Business Centre in the company of Tapson Munsaka. When the octogenarian left the business centre around 7 PM, the two men followed and attacked him with an axe on the head. They ferried his body from the scene using a scotch
cart.

They placed the body in a grass-thatched kitchen hut and set it on fire. The body which was burnt beyond recognition was discovered the following morning with investigations leading to the arrest of the duo.

Meanwhile, the High Court sitting in Mutare has sentenced James Mwafunda of Chimanimani to a wholly suspended sentence for the murder of his brother after an argument over how to share US$5 that the two men had been paid for a piece job.

Mwafunda and his brother, Tawanda Mwafunda were paid US$5 after completing a piece job and went to drink at Masori tuck shops in their locality.

While drinking, they started arguing over how to share the money. The argument escalated into a fight, and James struck Tawanda on the head with a stone, causing fatal injuries.

James then left the injured Tawanda and rushed to look for help. Eventually, the police ferried Tawanda to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

New Ziana