Jindu kills omalayitsha

19 Mar, 2017 - 00:03 0 Views
Jindu kills omalayitsha

The Sunday News

killer Rodney Tongai Jindu buried man in shallow grave

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
CROSS-border transporter operators who ply the Bulawayo-South Africa route, who are popularly known as omalayitsha, say they have lost a considerable amount of business following revelations that alleged killer Rodney Tongai Jindu had been promised a Toyota Quantum by one of them in exchange for a human body.

Jindu was arrested last month for allegedly shooting Cyprian Kudzurunga from Queens Park at point blank range on 29 January before burying the body on a vacant residential stand in Burnside.

Days later he allegedly confessed that he had also killed his neighbour Mboneli Keith Ncube who lived four houses from the Jindu residence. He claimed he had been promised a Toyota Quantum or $20 000 and the deceased was found with missing body parts. The Toyota Quantum is mostly used by the omalayitsha to transport goods and passengers across the borders.

Omalayitsha Goods and Passengers Transportation Association chairman Mr Godfrey Mhlophe was at pains to explain his dismay over the manner in which the operators have been branded following the story.

“We have lost a lot of business since the issue of Jindu came to light. People now fear using our members’ vehicles as they fear they will be killed and have their bodies sold to inyangas just like what happened with this case in question,” he said.

Mr Mhlophe said the operators’ image has been tarnished after the revelations and they will fight hard to change that perception.

However, he said they are willing to help track the omalayitsha who is said to have worked with Jindu, if the allegations are true.

“We are an association of over 70 omalayitsha, we have all their details and where to find them, no one registers without giving full particulars so we basically know each other. We are willing to work together with the police who are working on the case so that we at least get the details of the people whom Jindu gave the body to. If we do get details then if they are within the group we can weed them out. Even if it means setting traps for them, we are prepared because we have nothing to hide.

We also do not harbour such kind of criminals because we value life and business,” he said.

Secretary of the association Mr Khumbulani Sithole said the issue has brought misconception about the transport operators.

“If someone goes to South Africa once or twice they are not an omalayitsha, we are a registered association of authentic people that is why we are traceable, you can get us via this association because we know each other. People must avoid being tricked by fake people who masquerade as transporters yet they are criminals,” he said.

Another member of the association, Mr Thembanani Ncube said the operators formed the association so that there could be some form of control on how the were dealing with the customers.

“We formed an association so that there is control in the business, we need to have people who are accountable to the public whom they serve so if we get adequate information we could help in tracking the alleged omalayitsha who took the body parts,” he said.

He said in the event of theft or any unfortunate incidence they can easily trace the vehicles and their drivers since they are a registered organisation both in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Mr Ncube said the operators were genuine business people who are entrusted with carrying children, spouses and goods and were keen to maintain good relations and services.

The intention behind the ritual murder was for instant riches that were promised to Jindu if he delivered a body of a person with a Ncube totem.

@NyembeziMu

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