Murder suspect issued with warrant of arrest

Ntando Moyo (21), of Village Five, Sivomo area under Chief Madliwa in Nkayi, who is jointly charged with Pisi Nxumalo (56), of 1385 Emakhandeni, Nkosinathi Khumalo (27) of 3833 Magwegwe                       North, a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee Opah Moyo (59), of Sivomo area, Busani Sibanda (30), of 2255 New Magwegwe, Xolani Ncube (30), of Madwaleni area Under Chief Nyangazonke in Matobo District, Hloniphani Mugayo of 3277 Old Magwegwe whose age was not given and Lubimbi (60), did not attend court yesterday for routine remand prompting Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sophie Matimba to immediately

issue a warrant of arrest against him.
Lubimbi was implicated in the case after it emerged that she allegedly connived with Khumalo who had a seven-year-old house wrangle with Mr Mgoli Majola to murder him and allegedly give the councillor his brains, tongue, lips, nose and fingers.

Nxumalo, Khumalo, Sibanda and Mugayo were remanded in custody to 11 January next year together with Opah, Ncube and Lubimbi who are on bail.
Khumalo allegedly sought the assistance  of Lubimbi, Nxumalo and Sibanda and one Zibusiso Mnkandla, but they failed to resolve the issue of the house in Emakhandeni suburb.
Nxumalo, Khumalo and Mugayo allegedly planned to repossess the house by eliminating Mr Majola and they allegedly communicated their plan to Lubimbi.

She allegedly supported the idea and asked to be given Mr Majola’s tongue, brain, lips and fingers if the plan succeeded.
After agreeing, they allegedly hired Opah, Sibanda, Ncube and Mugayo to kill him.

The quartet, with the help of Opah, who posed as a police officer, allegedly kidnapped the late Mr Majola on 27 July. Opah wore a police uniform and they went to Mr Majola’s house with her alleged accomplices and advised him that he was under arrest for impregnating his maid.
The five allegedly claimed that they were taking him to Entumbane Police Station but  took him to a bushy area in Richmond suburb.

On arrival, they allegedly struck him with a machete on the head after Opah had allegedly handcuffed him to a tree trunk.
After allegedly killing him, they fled from the scene in a vehicle which was being driven by Ncube.
The following day, Khumalo and Mugayo allegedly returned to the scene and removed the late Mr Majola’s tongue, brains, fingers, lips and nose and wrapped them in a plastic bag before they allegedly gave        them to Lubimbi at her house in Magwegwe North.

Some women who were fetching firewood near Richmond suburb between Siyepambili Drive and Glenville Road discovered the body.
The face was burnt.

The accused were arrested after some of them were found in possession of the late Mr Majola’s items such as a radio and cellphones. Handcuffs and a police uniform belonging to Opah were also recovered following the arrest of the accused persons.
Mr Malvern Nzombe appeared for the State.