Murders over petty issues worry police

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
A 57-YEAR-OLD man was stabbed to death on Christmas Day for calling a colleague by a nickname he did not like. This is one of the many murders over trivial issues that are worrying police countrywide.

In a statement, National Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the man, whose name she did not supply, was killed in Nyanga at around 6.30PM.

She said Harare, Tsholotsho, Nyanga and Filabusi were hotspots for killings over petty matters.

“The ZRP is concerned about the spate of murder cases that are occurring around the country especially in Harare, Tsholotsho, Nyanga and Filabusi. On November 10, 2018, at around 10PM, a 54- year-old woman was walking towards Harare Central business district from Coca Cola where she had attended a church service. When she reached Seke flyover, she was attacked by some unknown assailants and she sustained a deep cut. She succumbed to the injuries and died on December 19, 2018,” she said.

“In another incident on December 25, 2018, at around 7PM, a 19- year-old teenager was stabbed to death after he was accused by his two assailants of stealing a cellphone,” said Senior Asst Comm Charamba.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said it was appalling that most of the murders occurred over inconsequential matters.

She said in Filabusi, an 18- year-old man was killed on December 25 at around 11PM after an altercation. The now deceased was hit with stone on the forehead.

“The ZRP would like to urge members of the public to respect the sanctity of life. Police are still investigating the murder cases and would like to warn perpetrators of this heinous crime that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them,” she said.

In a recent case which occurred in Nkayi, a man was stabbed to death after a brawl with a drinking partner who used an okapi knife to stab him. In a similar incident in Mufakose, Harare a man was stabbed to death with a broken beer bottle after he questioned why the accused was at his gate with his girlfriend

“In Gwelutshena, an 80-year- old woman was struck once on the head with an iron bar before she was raped and robbed of her belongings,” said Senior Asst Comm Charamba.

She said members of the public who used dangerous weapons were breaking the law and faced arrest.

A total of 13 people were violently murdered on Boxing Day across the country. — @andile_tshuma