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The Criminal Investigation Department coordinator for Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces, Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza said they had arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of William Longwe, who was believed to be in his late 70s.
He said the suspects also went on to loot the old man’s property, which has also been recovered.
Longwe was reportedly staying alone at his house, Number 6928 Pumula North, as his children are in the diaspora.
Neighbours said they last saw Longwe on Thursday last week before his body was discovered on Monday buried in a shallow grave.
His alleged killers reportedly dug the pit in his garden to bury him and conceal the crime.
The pit was about a metre deep and Longwe’s body was wrapped in clothes and sacks.
Asst Comm Makodza said they could not release details of the suspect as investigations were still under way.
“Detectives made a follow-up to the suspected murder of a Pumula North man and the first thing was to find out who the owner of the pick-up truck that was spotted by neighbours was,” said Asst Comm Makodza.
A neighbour had recorded the pick-up truck’s registration numbers and handed them to the police.
“Through our investigations, we located the owner of the vehicle who said he had sold it to somebody. The new owner of the vehicle revealed that he had been hired to ferry the property from the deceased’s house to a house in Luveve. He led detectives to the house in Luveve and showed them the person who had hired him, who is now the suspect,” said Asst Comm Makodza.
“The suspect admitted that he killed Longwe by hitting him with a garden pick on the head after an altercation over a $50 debt the old man owed him. The suspect led the police to the scene of the murder where he showed them where he had hidden the murder weapon in a fowl run. Efforts were made by the police to also recover all the property.”
The property included a bed, stove, two heavy duty sewing machines, fridge, wardrobe, kitchen unit, a DVD player, two suitcases, clothes and blankets.
Asst Comm Makodza urged members of the public to seek better ways of resolving disputes than to resort to violence.
“Investigations on the murder case are still ongoing and we want to urge members of the community to avoid violence when solving disputes as this usually results in unnecessary loss of life. People should find better means of settling disputes,” he said.
He said the suspect would soon appear in court once investigations have been completed.
Longwe’s suspected killers, who were seen ferrying his property, reportedly told neighbours he had moved to a new house while others were told he was now staying at his church’s premises.
Online Reporter