admin
Musawenkosi Moyo
A police officer stationed at ZRP Fort Rixon in Matabeleland South Province, along with two villagers suspected to be artisanal miners, has been arrested for the murder of a prophet believed to have stolen from one of the villagers who had reportedly hired him to conduct a cleansing ceremony at her house.
For the alleged offence, Constable Arnold Last Mukuhlane (25), along with Mike Maphuqa (37) and Prestage Sibanda (30), appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele, facing one count of murder.
They were not asked to plead and the matter was remanded to 22 January.
Allegations levelled against the trio are that on 20 December 2024, at around 9am, Const Mukuhlane, who was deployed at Fort Rixon Gadade Police Base, received a report of unlawful entry and theft into premises from Asias Mbano.
To follow up on the suspect, Eric Manduku (now deceased) and believed to be a prophet who had been hired by Mbano for a cleansing ceremony at her homestead, he enlisted the help of Maphuqa, Sibanda, and two others, Wisdom Moyo and Brighton Sibanda, who are still at large.
The court heard that the deceased was identified as a suspect and taken to Gadade Police Base where Mukuhlane and his accomplices interrogated him.
It is alleged that during the interrogation, the accused persons assaulted the now-deceased with a sjambok several times on the back and buttocks and detained him at the police base overnight.
The court further heard that on 21 December 2024, Manduku was released as no evidence linking him to the crime was found.
It was heard that on 22 December 2024, Manduku went to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical attention, where he was treated and admitted.
On 3 January 2025, he tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
Online Reporter