By Staff reporter
Blessing Zikhali (30) died on Wednesday after he was allegedly brutally assaulted at the neighbouring house where Khumbulani Sithole also known as Sniper, an umalayitsha (cross-border transporter) brandished a pistol to frighten people from rescuing his victim.
Zikhali’s family held the funeral service at Sithole’s home, three houses away from theirs.
Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said two people – Farai Fero and Fortune Ngwenya – have been arrested over the murder.
They allegedly fatally assaulted Zikhali whom they accused of stealing clothes belonging to Sithole from their washing line. After allegedly beating Zikhali, the two men escorted him to ZRP Pumula station where police called an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
“Police in Bulawayo are investigating a case of murder which occurred on Wednesday in Pumula South. The deceased is Blessing Zikhali (40) from Tsholotsho district who was unemployed. Accused one is Farai Fero aged 40, the second being Fortune Ngwenya aged 30,” said Insp Ncube.
“The now deceased was with his girlfriend at his place of residence when the two came and asked him to go to Ngwenya’s place. When they got there, the two men alleged that Zikhali had stolen clothes from the washing line earlier that day and an argument arose.”
Insp Ncube said the two men assaulted Zikhali with fists and a hose pipe all over the body and he sustained a cut above the left eye. On March 31 at around 1AM, the two accused persons escorted the now deceased to ZRP Pumula intending to file a report.
“While at the police station, the officers realised that Zikhali was seriously injured and arrested the two men for assault. The police also called an ambulance to take Zikhali to Mpilo Central Hospital where he later died,” he added.
Insp Ncube urged members of the public not to take the law into their hands. Zikhali’s relatives said they took the funeral service to Sithole’s home to show that the family is responsible for his death.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday attended the service but members of the Sithole family were not home. Proceedings including body viewing were held at the neighbour’s gate before the family proceeded to Athlone Cemetery Extension for burial.
Credit :Bulawayo24
