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A teenager teamed up with his brother’s wife to brutally assault his 67-year-old father with a knobkerrie before they burnt him to death after an inyanga told them that the old man was bewitching them.
Irene Khumalo, 20, and Bhetista Ndlovu, 19, from Sihazela line in Tsholotsho ambushed Andrew Ndlovu at his home on Thursday at about 1AM.
Khumalo was reportedly angry at her father-in law after an inyanga told them he had used supernatural means to get her husband Arnold Ndlovu imprisoned for poisoning elephants with cyanide.
Neighbours told Chronicle Bhetista and Khumalo went to the elder Ndlovu’s homestead armed with a knobkerrie and a can of petrol. “They broke down the door to his bedroom hut. Bhetista struck his father with the knobkerrie at the back of his head. Irene poured petrol over the supine old man and they set him alight. He was burnt beyond recognition,” said Bukhosi Khumalo.
He said Ndlovu screamed as the fire consumed him, awakening neighbours who rushed to the scene.
“We didn’t expect to witness such a horrific incident. We saw Irene and Bhetista fleeing from the scene as the old man was engulfed in flames. We tried to put out the fire using sand while others rushed to get water,” said Khumalo.
He said the fire raged on until Ndlovu was burnt beyond recognition.
Reuben Ndlovu, the deceased’s brother, said the two had visited a local witchdoctor who told them Ndlovu was behind the arrest and sentencing of Khumalo’s husband sometime last month.
“Arnold was arrested and sentenced. Fresh evidence of more crimes was unearthed and he was summoned back to court where he was was sentenced to another prison term. I can’t say offhand how long he will stay in jail.
“Irene and Bhetista were so angry that they decided to kill my brother. They did it in the cruellest manner imaginable,” said Ndlovu.
Limukani Ndlovu, the deceased’ grandson described the death as horrific and beyond the family’s understanding.
“We lost a hero in the family, whenever we had problems he would advise us accordingly but now he is gone we don’t know who to look up to, we just want justice to prevail,” he said.
He added that the family was not going to welcome the two back as they had proved to be inhumane.
Khumalo and Bhetista were arrested on Friday and are expected to appear in today.
Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North, Assistant Inspector Sipiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.
Online Reporter