A 33-YEAR-OLD miner from Gonkwe village under Chief Mathema in Matabeleland South has been arrested for killing his workmate for intervening in a fight between the accused and the deceased's son.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Chiratidzo Dube confirmed the murder and identified the accused as Sandra Mpofu. The deceased has been identified as Washington Ndlovu (53) from the same village.
The two were artisanal miners at Gwakwe Associates and were resident at the same farm.
“On July 29, at around 9pm, Ndlovu and his other workmates were relaxing at a fireplace. Mpofu emerged from the darkness with his friend Thokozani and ordered everyone to be silent. Informant Wilbert Ndlovu (25), who is the son of the now deceased, continued talking and this did not go down well with Mpofu,” Dube said
She said Mpofu withdrew a log from the fireplace and struck Wilbert once on the left arm, prompting his father to react. The father slapped Mpofu once in the face in retaliation.
“Mpofu took the log he used to hit Wilbert and struck Washington once on the head, and he fell. He picked up a steel mortar and struck Washington once on the head, and he sustained deep cuts,” Dube said.
She said Washington was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital the following day and a report was made to the police, leading to Mpofu’s arrest.
“On the same day, at around 8pm, Washington succumbed to the injuries while admitted to hospital. The police urge members of the public to exercise restraint, respect the law and the sanctity of life, and to ensure that whenever there is a misunderstanding, they seek counselling from third parties,” Dube said.
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