Two killed in free-for-all bar brawl

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
TWO men died while three others were seriously injured in a free-for-all beer brawl in which patrons set upon each other with iron bars in Masvingo.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the fierce fight started when one of the patrons at Mudzivo Bottle Store confronted a group that he accused of having caused his arrest in a 2014 assault case.

He said Soul Kani, 42, Paul Masimire, 65, and Lloyd Mutombo, 30, were airlifted to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare following the fight on March 11. Kani and Masimire died on Thursday last week while Mutombo is still in the Intensive Care Unit.

Tafara Joram, 27, and Wicklaugh Vurayayi, 28, were rushed to Chivi District Hospital where they were admitted but have since been discharged.

“Two people have been arrested and one of the accused, Vurayayi, was admitted to Chivi District Hospital. He has since been discharged and is expected to appear in court facing murder charges,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.

He said Vurayayi who was with his two brothers and a friend, confronted a patron that he accused of setting the police on him.

The group allegedly dragged the patron out of the bottle store and assaulted him.

Kani, Mutombo and Masimire, said Asst Insp Dehwa, intervened and stopped the group from stomping on the patron.

Asst Insp Dehwa said the men returned to the bottle store where they had a heated argument.

Later the dispute degenerated into a fierce fight in which seven people exchanged blows, some using iron bars and bricks, said the police spokesperson.