Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru– Police have confirmed investigating a murder case following the discovery of a dead body of a man in a disused motor vehicle parked in an alley at the Midlands Hotel.
The incident occurred in Gweru Central Business District on July 25, 2022 at about 0730 hours.
Investigations conducted have since linked the body to an assault case of a then unknown man who was reported at Gweru Central by an informant Samuel Jackson Jacha (29) of Mambo suburb in Gweru.
Circumstances given reveal that on (Friday) July 22, 2022 at about 2030 hours the witnesses saw four men assaulting a man (now deceased) who had just came out of Pandas Bar in 3rd street, Gweru Central Business District (CBD).
The men were using a rubber sjambok, empty beer bottles and an okapi knife. The victim had then escaped to an unknown destination but with very serious injuries.
Police attended the scene during the night and arrested four assault suspects namely Nkosi Ncube (26) Terrence Lewis Sibanda (18), Washington Ngwenya (20) and Jealous Matola (21) all of Umsungwe road, Ridgemont in Gweru.
Police looked for the complainant but could not locate him or establish his identity. On Saturday July 23 2022, the four suspects were taken to court where they were remanded in custody to July 26, 2022 while investigations continued.
On Monday July 25, 2022 at 0730 hours an informant Tendai Mafuratidze (34) reported at Gweru Central police that he had discovered a dead body in a motor vehicle in a car park.
Police attended the scene and the four suspects are now being charged with murder.
Injuries reported to have been inflicted on the assault victim on Friday night are tallying with those on the body.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko thanked members of the public who helped police with information regarding the incident.
“We thank the public for the part they played in the investigations done so far,” Mahoko said.
Speaking in one of the residents WhatsApp groups yesterday, Midlands Hotel owner Hamutendi Kombayi said it was unfortunate that such young life had been lost under unclear circumstances.
“It is unfortunate that we have learnt of the death of an unknown man and his body has been found in one of the disused vehicles at the hotel’s parking area.
“Indeed the reports came to me but we are glad that police have since started investigations and the issue is still being looked into.
“The hotel was just closed temporarily for investigations. As a company we are also going to look on the matter through our security personnel so that we clearly get the picture of what happened,” he said.
Reports from other close sources around the issue revealed that the uncle of the now deceased was however told by the now deceased’s mother that the four suspects were alleged to be illegal gold panners who had confronted the now deceased over an unknown dispute.
Upon the assault, the deceased went for a hair cut in the CBD upon which his barber also discovered that he (the deceased) had a deep wound on the head. After doing his hair, the barber reportedly failed to locate the now deceased for further questioning regarding the injury.
