Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
EIGHT elderly men from Guyu in Gwanda District have appeared before the High Court in Bulawayo for allegedly assaulting a man to death and stripping his wife naked during a vigilante attack over suspected cattle rustling.
Solomon Linda (70), Jacob Dube (68), Thando Sibanda (71), Cannan Moyo (72), Trust Mlilo (73), Nephat Moyo (71), Gift Ndlovu (71) and Phineas Ndlovu (75) are accused of fatally assaulting Sikhumbuzo Sibanda (46) in November 2021.
They appeared before Justice Naison Chivayo facing charges of kidnapping and murder.
The men are represented by Mr Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers.
Testifying in court, the deceased’s wife, Ms Sakhile Moyo, said a group of about 20 villagers stormed their homestead around 1AM and force-marched her family into the bush.
“They used black whips, sticks and pick handles to indiscriminately assault my husband and others who had been captured. They stripped me naked and beat me on the buttocks with logs and sticks in front of my children while I was carrying a baby on my back,” she said.
Ms Moyo told the court the accused alleged that her husband, a traditional healer, was helping livestock thieves evade arrest through traditional means. She said the assaults allegedly continued for three days.
According to court papers, the accused allegedly hatched a plan on November 1, 2021, to confront suspected stock theft syndicates that were said to be terrorising villagers in the area.
They allegedly mobilised each other and rounded up suspects, including the now-deceased, before taking them to Dam 27 in Guyu.
The State alleges the accused took turns assaulting and torturing the suspects over three days in an attempt to recover stolen livestock.
“On November 3, 2021, the accused allegedly led police to the scene, after which the suspects, including the deceased, were arrested on allegations of stock theft,” read court papers.
However, police reportedly observed visible injuries on Sibanda and referred him to Chelsea Clinic. He was later transferred to Gwanda Provincial Hospital, where he died upon admission.
A report was subsequently made, leading to the arrest of the eight accused persons.
The trial continues on February 13.
