Online Reporter
Colletta Dube
BULAWAYO informal traders’ leader and Zanu-PF member, Cde Thabo Mhlonitshwa Ndlovu, has vowed to fight what he describes as a family dispute over a residential plot which he claims to have inherited from his late parents.
Cde Ndlovu told this publication that some members of the family were spreading falsehoods in an attempt to challenge his ownership of the property.
He said he inherited the plot following the death of his parents and subsequently took responsibility for caring for his sister, Ms Thando Ndlovu, and their young son.
According to Cde Ndlovu, Ms Ndlovu had been battling a mental health condition and was under his care, with him meeting her medical and other needs until her death.
“These are all falsehoods being spread by bitter individuals. I know what happened and I know my rights. I will not be moved easily, and I will use all the legal means and avenues at my disposal to defend what I know to be rightfully mine,” said Cde Ndlovu.
He said he had taken care of Ms Ndlovu and her son, Zibusiso Nkosikhona Ndlovu and maintained that his involvement with the property was legitimate.
“I used my resources to take care of my sister and her son, hence I am shocked where all this noise is coming from.”
However, relatives have disputed his account and raised questions over how the plot came to be registered or controlled by Cde Ndlovu.
A relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that Ms Ndlovu, who was the eldest daughter, had begun questioning Cde Ndlovu’s claim to the property before her death.
The relative further alleged that the family suspected Cde Ndlovu may have had a role in circumstances surrounding Ms Ndlovu’s death, although the allegation could not independently be verified.
“We strongly suspect that Thabo had a hand in her death after she started asking questions about the property and how he came to own it. We cannot say this as a fact, but these are serious concerns that need to be investigated,” said the relative.
The relative also described Cde Ndlovu as a powerful and intimidating figure who was difficult for family members to challenge.
“Thabo is largely feared and people see him as very much untouchable. That is why some family members have been afraid to speak openly about what has been happening,” said the relative.
The relative further revealed that, while Cde Ndlovu claimed that he had also raised and taken care of Zibusiso, it was a known fact that the child was heavily abused which eventually led him to run away as he could not stand the abuse,” said the relative.
The dispute has now widened beyond the ownership of the property, with relatives questioning the circumstances surrounding Ms Ndlovu’s death and calling for the matter to be thoroughly investigated.
Cde Ndlovu, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the property dispute was being driven by individuals with personal grievances against him.
He said his record of caring for Ms Ndlovu and her son after his brother’s death demonstrated that he had acted in the interests of the family.
The ownership history of the disputed property and the circumstances surrounding Ms Ndlovu’s death could not independently be established from the information available.
Police comment on whether any complaint had been lodged or whether investigations into Ms Ndlovu’s death were underway was not immediately available.
The family dispute is expected to continue, with both sides maintaining sharply different accounts over ownership of the property and the events preceding Ms Ndlovu’s death.
