Funeral Beer Dispute Turns Deadly, Man Stoned to Death
n By Delicious Mathuthu n nn n Gweru, Zimbabwe - A funeral wake in Mantiya Village under Chief Bunina, Lower Gweru, turned violent on 7 December when a disagreement over beer ended with a 52-year-old man being bludgeoned to death with a sto
anostrofy By Delicious Mathuthu
Gweru, Zimbabwe - A funeral wake in Mantiya Village under Chief Bunina, Lower Gweru, turned violent on 7 December when a disagreement over beer ended with a 52-year-old man being bludgeoned to death with a stone.
Acting Midlands Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Xolani Dube confirmed the incident, saying Richard Sibanda (52) was drinking with Tinotenda Madanhire (26) and Jameson Magigwana at the mourning gathering, around 10 am when a heated argument broke out.
Asst. Inspector Dube says Madanhire suddenly grabbed a stone and smashed Sibanda’s head, knocking him to the ground.
Witnesses to the scene say the attacker then crushed Sibanda’s head several times with the same rock.
The victim died instantly. Both Madanhire and Magigwana, from Farm 56 Vungu Maphisa in Lower Gweru, fled the scene and are on the run.
Sibanda’s body was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Police in Maboleni have since launched a manhunt and are appealing for information on the suspects’ whereabouts.
In an unrelated incident the same day, a 25-year-old man was stabbed to death at Bvute Business Centre in Mberengwa District after a quarrel spiralled out of control.
Asst. Inspector Dube, in a statement, says Anele Moyo, from Munyamani Village under Chief Chizungu, got into an argument with Perfect Bhidhi over an undisclosed matter around 5 pm.
As the two began fighting, Perfect’s elder brother Patrick Bhidhi intervened, tripping Moyo to the ground.
Patrick then allegedly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Moyo multiple times.
Moyo bled heavily and, despite being rushed to Mberengwa District Hospital by a good Samaritan, was pronounced dead on arrival.
Both Patrick and Perfect Bhidhi, from Shayamabvudzi Village under Chief Bvute, are still at large.
Asst. Inspector Dube, urged the public to assist locate all four fugitives in the two incidents and pleaded for an end to such violence.
“The police are appealing to members of the public to respect the sanctity of life,” Dube said.
