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Lindani Dube Hwange Court Correspondent
PARDON Mpofu, 22, charged with the gruesome killing of two co-workers at the late Vice-President Landa John Nkomo’s Winterblock Ranch in Insuza last year, yesterday told how he executed the double murder.
Mpofu of Jumbika Village in Lupane pleaded guilty to two counts of murder before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema sitting on circuit in Hwange. He claimed he momentarily lost his mind when he committed the crimes. He spoke of a “loud silence” that followed the fatal striking of his first victim with a hoe handle on the head. Mpofu claimed to have seen Nhlanhla Dube, 21, lacing his food with a dipping chemical. He also recounted how he executed his second, unprovoked attack on Pilate Moyo, 28, with a knobkerrie, moments after they had taken baths separately.
Mpofu, a herdboy at Paddock 14, said he earlier had a quarrel with Dube of Bubi in the presence of Moyo of Nkayi before killing them in October last year and dumping their bodies in a septic tank.
“I physically fought with Dube because he accused me of delaying to come back to work. We were no longer on speaking terms before I saw him putting a dipping chemical in my food on October 6 as we were now cooking separately,” Mpofu said.
“After taking the cattle for a drink I found Dube seated on the verandah carrying an axe. I passed him and went to my bedroom but I then came out carrying a hoe handle before striking him once on the head.”
He went on: “I was mentally unstable when I hit Dube causing him to fall down and die. A loud silence followed before I dragged his body and placed it in an old septic tank. My head was not working well and I was not aware of what I was doing.”
Mpofu told the court that after concealing Dube’s death, he met Moyo along the path and returned with him to work at around 4PM.
“We arrived and prepared a meal before we took baths separately. After that we sat by the verandah near the fireplace. It was then that I pulled out a knobkerrie and hit him twice on the head for no reason,” Mpofu added.
He said Moyo “died on the spot and I dragged him as well to the old septic tank.”
“I took $5 from Moyo, their clothing, cellphones and a satchel before fleeing the farm in shock over my actions,” Mpofu said.
State witnesses, Dube’s girlfriend Anastasia Ndlovu, Tinashe Munsaka, 20, also a former herdboy at the farm and Moyo’s wife Lawrain Tiyanani corroborated with the state case in validation of their consensual police statements.
The court heard that the wooden hoe handle weighed 1,1kgs and measured 125cm and had a head circumference of 14cm. The knobkerrie was 76cm in length and weighed 400 grammes.
It emerged during proceedings that Mpofu sold himself out by going to Anastasia’s home after the double murder at around 1AM and found her asleep before using Dube’s phone for lighting.
When Anastasia asked what he wanted, Mpofu said nothing but laughed at her when she threatened to tell Dube of his trespassing, not knowing he had killed and disposed of him, the court heard.
The state led by Whisper Mabaudhi told how on October 5 last year, Dube returned to the farm from a pay break after passing through Anastasia’s residence.
Mabaudhi said Moyo was spotted by Munsaka in the company of Mpofu heading towards their work plot.
On October 7 Anastasia, who was Dube’s girlfriend, saw Mpofu wearing Dube’s cap.
“On October 8 Mpofu was spotted by Anastasia in possession of Dube’s cellphone. Later on October 14, farm manager Ndabezinhle Ncube visited Winterblock in the company of Kembo Nkomo acting on information that there was no one at the farm,” said Mabaudhi.
“Ncube discovered the bodies of the two workers in the septic tanks.”
He said on the 16th of that month at around 3AM police caught Mpofu, following a raid on a neighbour’s home at his rural Jumbika Village.
Police also recovered property belonging to Dube, Moyo, Anastasia and Lawrain along with a hoe handle and a wooden knobkerrie through Mpofu’s indications, the court heard.
Mpofu was remanded in custody to today for continuation of trial. Givemore Muvhiringi of Dube and Partners represented him.
Online Reporter