The Sunday News
Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
TWO murder suspects mysteriously escaped from police holding cells at Msilahove Police Base where they were held in connection with a murder case which had occurred at a business centre in Silobela.
Sources said police at Msilahove Police Base moved in and arrested about six suspects who were drinking beer at Msilahove Business Centre after one of the imbibers, Thembelani Ndlovu was fatally assaulted during a beer brawl.
“Six suspects were picked by the police and were detained at Msilahove police base for questioning. The following morning, police discovered that two of the suspects had escaped and no one had an idea on how they managed to escape,” said the source.
The source said the police did not bother to make a follow-up on the mysterious escapees after further investigations later revealed that the two escapees were not implicated in the murder of Ndlovu.
“It was also revealed during police investigations that all those who were picked up for questioning were not suspects. The suspects had already fled from the scene and they are still at large,” said the source.
Police spokesperson for Midlands province Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the murder incident.
He, however, said he was unaware of the suspects who escaped from the police holding cells.
“I can confirm that police are investigating a murder case which occurred in Silobela. Police are keen to interview two suspects, Previous Ncube and Ntandoyenkosi Dhlodhlo who are on the run.
“We appeal to members of the public with information that might lead to the arrest of the two to approach any nearest police station,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy from Lower Gweru communal lands has been arrested after he fatally struck his cousin with a knobkerrie for allegedly giving him too many domestic chores to do.
Confirming the incident, Inspector Goko said the now deceased 19-year-old had asked the suspect to go and look for the family cattle which had gone missing when the two started quarrelling.
“The teenager then told his cousin that he was giving him too much tasks to do and was not willing to go and look for the missing cattle. The now deceased, however, insisted that the suspect should go and look for the missing beasts,” said Insp Goko.
He said the suspect then got armed with a knobkerrie which he used to strike his cousin once on the head.
“He collapsed and died on the spot. The matter was reported to the police who attended to the scene,” said Insp Goko.
The teenager will appear before a Gweru magistrate this week.
