Online Reporter
THE clang of prison doors shutting on Cabangani Mathe is more than the end of a man’s run. It is a thunderous reminder that no one is above the law, not bullies, not fugitives, not men who think fear gives them power.
For Plumtree, this is justice delayed but not denied. A man who terrorised a community, slipped out of custody under cover of darkness and ran across borders has been dragged back into the harsh light of accountability. Thanks to sharp policing and firm courts, the illusion of untouchability has been smashed to pieces.
Credit must go where it is due. The Zimbabwe Republic Police, working with regional partners, proved that borders are not shields for criminals. A routine stop in Malawi, a simple demand for identification, and the whole rotten scheme collapsed.
From there, the wheels of justice moved swiftly. The CID Homicide unit did its job. The courts did theirs.
Six years for escaping lawful custody now sits heavy on Mathe’s shoulders, and more days in court still await him.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said it plainly. There is no safe haven for criminals. That message matters. It tells every would-be thug that arrogance will not save them. It tells every victim that the law has a long memory.
Before the courtroom, before the sentence, there were victims. Real people in Plumtree who lived in fear while Mathe swaggered and boasted.
Some suffered in silence, convinced nothing could be done. This case proves the opposite. Victims of bullies always have recourse in the law. Always.
If you are being threatened, assaulted or terrorised, speak up. Walk into a police station. Open a case. If fear still grips you, drop details anonymously into police suggestion boxes. Tips save lives. Silence only feeds abusers.
The judiciary also deserves applause. Standing before a magistrate in Bulawayo, Mathe was no longer the feared figure of the streets. He was just another accused person, equal before the law, forced to answer for his actions.
This is a victory for humanity. It tells communities that justice can cross borders. It tells bullies their reigns end. And it tells victims everywhere that the law is not a distant promise but a living force, ready to act the moment courage meets action.
