The trial of a three-men gang that allegedly killed four women and a baby for ritual purposes in Stanmore near Gwanda between November and December last year, will start on Tuesday.
On April 2, the matter was postponed to the second term of the High Court to allow time for the State to call the last two witnesses, investigating officers, to testify.
Fifteen witnesses had been lined up to testify and 13 have already done so.
The trio of Mncedisi Ndlovu, Nhlanhla Sibanda and Bhekimpilo Mthethwa pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder when they appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese.
The suspects were allegedly linked to a Gwanda businessman, who was said to be the mastermind of the operation.
However, the businessman has since been exonerated by the police.
The three are being held at Khami Remand Prison in Bulawayo.
Charges against the three are that between November 18 and December 8 last year, the gang waylaid its victims as they disembarked from buses or other public transport at Stanmore bus station and took them to a nearby bush and robbed them of their goods before killing them.
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They allegedly murdered Mthombani Moyo (81), Senzokuhle Moyo (44), Melgina Mahlangu (62) and Nothando Dziba (20) and her seven-month-old baby, whose name was not given in court.
However, the three were arrested after allegedly murdering Mthombani on December 8.
Whisper Mabhaudhi is prosecuting while Charles Paul Moyo, Ndabezinhle Mazibuko and Nathan Tawanda Mashayamombe appeared for Ndlovu, Sibanda and Mthethwa pro deo.
