By Rangarirai Shanyurai
MASVINGO – Lobola negotiations took a violent turn in Mwenezi recently when the bride’s father teamed up with three other relatives to fatally assault the intermediary (Munyai/Sadombo) for bringing US$30 as initial lobola for her daughter.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident to TellZim News, where he gave details on the death of Alex Sibanda, who was fatally assaulted by the father of the bride in question, Farisai Zhou of Madzvaruse Village, Chief Mazhetese and his accomplices who are still at large.
Further details were that Zhou’s daughter, Onai (18) had eloped with a Mberengwa man only identified as Power on February 10, 2025, after which Sibanda was sent by Power as the intermediary (Munyai) with US$30 as initial bride price the following morning.
“The suspect and his accomplices Simbarashe Zhou, Inzwirashe Majaya, and Isaac Majaya took turns to repeatedly assault the victim with a catapult and logs all over the body after a dispute regarding the amount of money the victim had brought.
“We urge members of the public to solve their issues amicably to avoid loss of life,” Dhewa said.
Sources privy to the incident told TellZim News that upon arrival at Farisai’s homestead, Sibanda advised the former and his accomplices that he had been sent by their in-law only identified as Power with US$30 as initial bride price for Onai.
This enraged Farisai and his accomplices, who began to assault Sibanda, saying they had been insulted by the amount he had brought, before Audrey Mushayi (53) who was passing by refrained them, but Sibanda was already unconscious.
After being refrained, they dragged Sibanda outside of their homestead and he managed to only walk for 500 metres after which he fell on the foot path.
Around 1400 hours the following day, two women who were passing by saw him lying on the ground and he managed to narrate what had happened the previous day.
They then notified a fellow villager, Edias Shumba who went on to check on Sibanda only to find him dead before reporting to the police.
The body of the deceased was later taken to Neshuro District Hospital for post-mortem while Farisai was taken into police custody.
Sibanda is said to have had traveled from Gwanda where he lived to Mberengwa, where he was then sent to Mwenezi for the negotiations.
