Man kills uncle over maize

Munyaradzi Musiiwa

A ZHOMBE man has been arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing his uncle following a dispute over maize which the former intended to sell.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident which occurred last week at Ntingwe Business Centre in Zhombe when Sehluli Ncube (33) of Mvayi Village under Chief Malisa, allegedly stabbed his uncle, Josiah Ngatsheni-Ncube (65) following a dispute over maize.

Insp Goko said on the fateful day, Sehluli went to Ntingwe Business Centre to sell two buckets of maize and approached Ms Hilda Muzinjana, a shopkeeper. Muzinjana agreed to buy the maize.

Insp Goko said while they were negotiating the price, Ngatsheni-Ncube approached the two and interrupted the transaction arguing that his nephew could not sell the maize considering that there is drought.

A heated argument ensued and Ngatsheni-Ncube went on to assault Sehluli with a wooden stick all over the body. Sehluli retaliated by stabbing Ngatsheni-Ncube with an Okapi knife all over the body until he died.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where a man from Zhombe fatally stabbed his uncle with an Okapi knife following a dispute over maize. The incident occurred when the now deceased, Ngatsheni-Ncube tried to stop the accused person from selling maize.

Ngatsheni-Ncube tried to advise his nephew that it was a bad idea to sell maize at a time when the country was grappling with drought. The two had a fight resulting in the accused stabbing his uncle on the cheek, chest, waist and buttocks. Ngatsheni-Ncube died on the spot,” he said.