Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
POLICE have arrested a 39-year-old man who allegedly shot dead a 21-year-old man from Filabusi in Insiza District, Matabeleland South on Christmas Day following a rift over a missing snooker token.
Takeknowledge Mthombeni (39) was playing snooker with Wilson Malunga (21) at a nightclub in Filabusi when an altercation ensued after Malunga said one of his tokens was missing.
The argument degenerated into a fight resulting in Mthombeni leaving in a huff to his Toyota Fun Cargo and returned armed with a pistol which he used to shoot Malunga on the head and he died on the spot.
After the incident, Mthombeni fled the scene.
In a statement yesterday, police said they have since arrested Mthombeni and he is facing a murder charge. They said he is also linked to a case of armed robbery.
“Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police message on X (formerly Twitter) platform on December 26, 2023 in which Wilson Malunga (21) was shot dead by suspect, Takeknowledge Mthombeni (39) while playing snooker in Filabusi on December 25, 2023 at around 1:30AM,” read the statement.
“Police have arrested the suspect at Mabhuru Business Centre in Neta, Mberengwa. The firearm used in the commission of the crime has been recovered.”
Police said in addition to the murder charge, Mthombeni is also facing another charge of armed robbery in relation to a case which occurred in Mberengwa on December 23 where the firearm used to kill Malunga was stolen.
Police increased deployment of officers to deal with the festive season related crime.
Since the start of festive season, police have arrested several criminals including armed robbers.
On Unity Day, police arrested five suspects who implicated two others including a police officer for raids that occurred in Bulawayo and its surrounding areas as well as Victoria Falls where the suspects got away with more than US$154 000 in eight months.
The police further arrested three armed robbery suspects who are part of a 15 member gang in connection with a robbery at a mine in Kadoma where the suspects got away with a Toyota Hilux and cellphones among other things.
A week ago, police arrested four suspects while two others, one of them a South African, were shot dead following a shoot-out with law enforcement at a guest house in Harare.
Police have also made a breakthrough towards arresting individuals who facilitated that minor children drink alcohol in Harare.
Police have commended the cordial relations with the community for their ability to arrest some of the suspects committing crimes across the country. —@nqotshili
Online Reporter