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Danisa Masuku
A FORMER soldier who was accused of having killed his father-in-law and fled to Bulawayo before finding refuge in North End suburb where he reportedly went on a robbery spree has been arrested.
Stanley Nkomo (42) from Gokwe in Midlands Province was arrested on Tuesday in North End suburb.
A source close to investigations said sometime in April this year while Nkomo was boozing with his father-in-law in Gokwe, an altercation broke out.
“He erupted into anger accusing his father-in-law of having allowed his wife to desert him and marry another man while he was serving a jail sentence in Khami Prison for a fraud case in 2019,” said the source.
After that the pair who were neighbours, the source said, left for their homes and while they were walking, Nkomo turned his ex-father-in-law into a punching bag.
“While they were walking Nkomo landed blows on his father-in-law and indiscriminately attacked him all over the body with an iron bar,” said the source.
According to the source, Marikiti tumbled to the ground and bled, Nkomo left him in a pool of blood. The source said Marikiti later died. His ex-wife’s family did not take kindly to that.
“His life was in danger and he had to flee to Bulawayo to seek refuge and stayed at North End suburb. While he was in North End, he terrorised and pounced on residents who mostly walked in dark spots during the night. He said as a means of survival he had to rob people because he did not have a source of income.”
One of his victims Thabo Sithole, a resident at North End suburb narrated how he was robbed by Nkomo.
“We met at North End shops, during our conversation he lied to me that he was a soldier stationed at Mzilikazi Barracks (former Brady Barracks) and asked me to accompany him. I fell for the trap. After that, we went to Mzilikazi Barracks claiming he wanted to visit his friend, when we were about to reach the camp, he robbed me of my cellphone and US$22 before he disappeared into the darkness. I reported the incident at Khumalo Police Station,” said the source.
Meanwhile, through investigation, this publication learnt that Nkomo was allegedly relieved of his duties in 2018 after he stole food rations. In early 2019, he committed a fraud case in Hwange and served a jail sentence before he was released in April this year.
Bulawayo Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
“We would like to confirm that we have arrested a man from Gokwe who was wanted for a murder case. When he was here in Bulawayo, he went on a robbery spree, robbing people of various items,” he said.
Online Reporter