MHONDORO — Police in Mashonaland West Province have arrested eight villagers over the murder of a suspected cattle rustler. Report by Own Correspondent
Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the arrests at the weekend, adding the victim, Josphat Majoka, died at Mubaira Police Station last Wednesday after he was allegedly assaulted by the villagers.
Five of the alleged assailants are from the Chinembiri family who include Taruvinga (63), Blessed (32), Tendai (25), Justice (38) and David (29). The others are Luckson Mapfumo (36), Steven Madembo (57) and Marshal Mushikware (17). They are all expected to appear in court soon facing a murder charge.
Police said on January 23 2013 at around 5am, the Chinembiri family members discovered that their two beasts were missing from the cattle pen.
Taruvinga Chinembiri, who is the father, then ganged up with his sons and other villagers and started trailing the animal spoor which led them to Eden Farm in Beatrice where the now deceased stayed, but they only found his children present.
They then reported the matter at ZRP Beatrice before moving back to Mubaira. Along the way they met the now deceased who was accompanied by his wife.
They then force-marched the suspected stockthief to Masawi business centre where they severely assaulted him.
The following day at around 1am, they took the suspect to ZRP Mubaira where Taruvinga Chinembiri lodged another stocktheft report.
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However, police officers noticed that the suspected rustler was seriously injured and referred him to Mhondoro Hospital where he was treated and taken back to Mubaira Police Station.
He later succumbed to injuries from the assault.
