Cattle (file pic)
Lloyd Shunje
CHIPINGE – A Chipinge man is on the run after allegedly abducted and assaulting to death a suspected cattle thief recently.
Thomas Mabuwe of Gotami village, Chief Musikavanhu in Chipinge is accused of killing Watson Chikumbu (40) from Tongai village. Chikumbu was being accused of stealing Mabuwe’s two cattle.
Manicaland Acting Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda confirmed the incident and appealed to members of the public with information about Mabuwe to report at an nearest police station.
“we are appealing to members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused who allegedly assaulted the now deceased with sticks before he died two days later to assist the police,” said Chananda.
It is alleged that on June 12, 2017, Mabuwe approached the now deceased who was staying with his brother Samson Sithole (46) around 1500 hours and took him to an unkwown destination alleging that he had stolen his two cattle.
Mabuwe accompanied, Chikumbu back to his homestead on June 16 where the now deceased narrated what had transpired during the ‘abduction’ and torture to his nephew Fungai Simango (30), saying he had been assaulted with sticks all over his body.
Arrangements to take Chikumbu to Zamuchaya clinic for treatment were fruitless as he died before being taken to the clinic.
The police attended the scene following a tip off the following day and observed that Chikumbu had cuts on the forehead, back of his head, swollen face, hands and bruises on his buttocks and his body was taken to St Peters Hospital for post mortem.local
