adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
A MARRIED Tsholotsho man died in the arms of his lover at his farm in Nyamandlovu on Sunday night. Efias Sibanda, 51, known for crimes that include housebreaking, stocktheft and unlawful entry, is suspected to have died of heart failure as he retired to bed with his girlfriend. The incident occurred at around 8PM at Village 4, Ward 14.
According to a police source, Sibanda had acquired legendary status as an “untouchable criminal”.
“Efias would admit to committing a crime but somehow, he always ended up going scot free,” said the source.
“Police believe Efias had a very good traditional healer or prophet who gave him supernatural powers.”
Sibanda’s wife, Sithini Khumalo, 51, said she could not stomach that he died in another woman’s arms.
She said what pained her more was that they were supposed to solemnise their 22-year-old traditional marriage by having a formal “white” wedding this year.
“I knew of my husband’s affair with a woman called Precious Tshuma and they have a two-year-old son. As far as I was concerned, they had stopped seeing each other,” she told The Chronicle.
“My late husband had told me the woman had sold the house he had bought her and had relocated to Gweru. Until last night, I thought the two were no longer in contact,” said Khumalo.
She said her marriage to Sibanda was childless.
“About a month ago, my late husband asked me if he could bring his illegitimate son to live with us. I agreed, did all the formalities with Childline and the boy came into our home,” said Khumalo.
“Late on Sunday night I got the shock of my life to hear my husband had died in the arms of that woman. The woman has guts as she’s here at my home right now for the funeral.”
Khumalo said her in-laws told her Sibanda visited them with Tshuma last week.
Skhumbuzo Ndlovu, a worker at the Sibanda farm, said Tshuma, whom he had never seen before, had been at the farm for three days waiting for Sibanda.
“She was here for three days claiming that she would wait till my boss arrived. He then arrived Sunday evening and at around 8PM the woman woke me and other workers saying Sibanda was having difficulties in breathing.
“She said they had been arguing about the child’s custody as she wanted her son back. He breathed his last after telling me he wanted to rest,” said Ndlovu.
Village head, Virginia Ndlovu said she found Sibanda already dead when workers at the farm called her.
“It’s sad though to die just like that and as a woman I can imagine how his wife, whom we all know in this village, should be feeling.
“This woman had the guts to come and sleep in another woman’s bed and I feel it’s the Lord’s way of revealing such things to the world,” said Ndlovu.
Matabeleland police spokesperson Sipiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.
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