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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE family of an ex-soldier who was allegedly killed by his two neighbours have demanded compensation from the assailants’ 85-year-old grandfather.
Nathaniel Moyo yesterday told The Chronicle the family had threatened that “terrible things” would happen to him if he did not comply.
Mduduzi Moyo, 34 and Ntuthuko Moyo, 21, from Nxele Village allegedly hammered Lovemore Sibanda to death in a dispute that started during a drinking spree.
The brothers who were staying with their grandfather and 75-year-old grandmother were remanded in custody to January 6 when they appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon facing murder charges.
Moyo said the Sibanda family had first ordered him to bury their late son.
“The Sibanda family listed resources which they wanted before burying their son that included two cows, groceries, a coffin and fuel to take their son to Tsholotsho for burial.
“I indicated that I didn’t have money. They then ordered me and my wife to bury their son. They threatened me saying if I didn’t follow their orders something terrible was going to happen to me,” said Moyo.
He said Sibanda’s father who works in South Africa, accused him of conniving with his arrested grandchildren to kill Sibanda.
He said the Sibanda family had banned him and his wife from entering their homestead.
Moyo said he had to engage a distant relative who went to seek forgiveness from the Sibanda family soon after the incident.
He said the threats from the Sibanda family had left him terrified.
Moyo said he found it disturbing that the Sibanda family was blaming him for killing their son yet the culprits were already in prison.
“I’ve nothing to offer the Sibanda family as I’m poor and looking after many grandchildren. They’re my neighbours and I know that my grandchildren offended them in a great way. However, they’re being inconsiderate especially to a person of my age,” he said.
His wife Esnathi Mpofu said Sibanda could have provoked her grandchildren.
She said the ex-soldier was known as a violent person throughout the community.
Mpofu said the two brothers must have retaliated to teach him a lesson, not knowing the misunderstanding would result in death.
She said she did not understand why her family was being persecuted when the matter was being handled by the police.
Christine Moyo who was assigned to engage the Sibanda family on behalf of the Moyo family said the bereaved family had been hostile to her.
She said she had tried to reason with them and seek forgiveness but they had maintained that something terrible would befall the Moyo family as revenge for what happened to their son.
The Sibanda family could not be reached for comment.
The Moyo brothers and Lovemore Sibanda who is an ex-soldier got involved in a dispute on December 20 while they were drinking at Nxele Business Centre.
The misunderstanding whose cause has not been ascertained, came to an end after members of the public who were at the business centre intervened.
Sibanda allegedly later returned armed with a hammer and confronted the siblings.
Mduduzi allegedly attacked Sibanda with an empty beer bottle. Ntuthuko is said to have picked the hammer which had been dropped by Sibanda and hit several times on the head and ribs until he died.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter