adminFairness Moyana
VILLAGERS of Kanyambizi area of Jambezi under Chief Shana are living in fear after an alleged fugitive wife killer, Lyton Muleya, was spotted on several occasions armed with a spear and axe.
It has since emerged that Muleya who has been on the run after allegedly axing his wife, Louisa Miti, on 17 September has eluded capture after taking refuge in the dense bushes of Jambezi.
Villagers in Kanyambizi told Sunday News that they were living in fear of Muleya and would always avoid him whenever they saw him in the forest of Jambezi area 60km south of Kasibo where he allegedly axed his wife after she refused to sleep in their bedroom following a misunderstanding over an unknown issue. They said though they knew that Muleya who comes from the area was a wanted man, they were afraid to apprehend him because of his heavy build and weapons he has been seen carrying.
“Since he was spotted in our area by herdboys armed with a spear and axe, most people here are living in fear to an extent that we are even afraid to effect a citizen’s arrest because of his physical appearance. One would think twice about apprehending such a man who has resigned himself to staying in the bush to escape arrest. Police will have to be armed in order to arrest him otherwise he is likely to overpower them,” said one village elder who refused to be identified.
The villagers appealed to the police to take swift action in arresting Muleya as they no longer felt secure before making startling revelations that since he was spotted in the area items such as mealie-meal and relish have gone missing in their homes.
It is believed that Muleya who according to well-placed sources allegedly fled with a pot and cooking oil after killing his wife, monitors a homestead for hours before sneaking into the kitchen hut where he steals mealie-meal and relish.
“Since his discovery in the area a few days ago some homesteads have been missing items such as mealie meal, cooking oil and relish. We are convinced that these are his works as the foodstuffs are taken when no-one is home,” said a woman who preferred to be identified only as MaNdlovu.
Efforts to get a comment on the developments from Matabeleland North police were fruitless . However, sources confirmed that efforts to arrest Muleya have since intensified in the reported area.
Bongani Ndlovu