Sundaymail Editor
THIS week’s award for sheer idiocy goes to Ketai Nhanha (30) and Jenfat Manamike (34), who inexplicably turned against their colleague, killed him and took his car thinking they had committed the perfect crime.
It was, however, not to be, as the long arm of the law eventually caught up with them.
On June 20, 2024, police received a tip-off that a body had been found in a bush near the MK1 Nsukamini powerline in Figtree.
Surprise, surprise, it turned out that the victim was Nhanha and Manamike’s colleague, minus his vehicle. But here is where our mamparas showed their stupidity.
Instead of, say, lying low for some time, they had the nerve to freely drive around Gwanda in the stolen car.
Although they had removed the number plates to hide their dastardly crime, they foolishly forgot about the chassis and engine numbers.
It did not take long for police to pounce, arresting one of the murderers while he was joyriding in the vehicle. When quizzed, he folded like a cheap suit, sang like a canary and outed his partner in crime.
Don’t they say there is no honour among thieves. Police tracked down suspect number two in Bulawayo, where the missing number plates were found tucked under the bed.
Genius!
On February 11, 2025, the disloyal duo was hauled before Justice Munamato Mutevedzi at the Bulawayo High Court, where their fate was sealed. Justice Mutevedzi handed down their well-deserved sentences: 20 years for robbery and life imprisonment for murder.
Never again will they walk our streets as free men.
CID spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri summed it up perfectly: “The duo was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of their colleague after robbing his motor vehicle . . . This case serves as a stern warning to those who engage in violent criminal activities.”
While criminals might think that the biggest lesson to be learnt from this story is not to leave evidence under the bed, well, the moral of the story is, do not commit crime at all.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu