Chronicle Editor
Sithatshisiwe Vuma, Sunday News Reporter
FIGTREE villagers on the outskirts of Bulawayo along Plumtree road are living in fear of a rogue worker who has camped in the bush and has allegedly embarked on a stealing spree.
Mehluli Sibanda, originally from Lupane, is striking fear into villagers with his alleged raids that have seen him steal goats and sheep.
Sibanda reportedly took advantage of the benevolence of Mr Jano Ncube who had employed him and allegedly started stealing from around the area. Villagers said Sibanda has been stealing from them for a living. Sibanda (30) is reportedly evading arrest as he is of no fixed abode.
The village headman, Mr Israel Tokwana, told Sunday News that the man was working at village 3 at in Ncube’s homestead.
“Mehluli was working for Mr Jano Ncube at village 3, he was fired I do not know why. That’s when he started stealing in people’s houses in order to sustain himself,” said the village headman.
He was once caught by villagers and they disciplined him before handing him over to the police but he came back after a week and stole a sheep of another villager the very day he was released.
“The villagers were happy when he was arrested but then got disappointed when he came back after a week and the police told us that the court had to drop the charges against him because he was injured by a mob.
“We have tried our best to get rid of this man but all our work is in vain, people are now afraid of losing their livestock because he doesn’t care, he steals everything. We are even afraid that he will end up raping our children, what kind of person who stays in the bushes.”
The village head said they were pleading if there was anyone who knows his family or his family to come forward and take him back.
Online Reporter