The Sunday News
Midlands Correspondent
THE body of a Lower Gweru murder victim, Thembelelani Ndlovu, is reportedly stuck at the Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary because his relatives are demanding the arrest of the suspects as well as compensation from the suspects’ relatives before any burial arrangements are made.
Ndlovu was fatally assaulted about two weeks ago following a beer brawl at Msilahove Business Centre and police were still hunting down the two suspects, Previous Ncube and Ntandoyenkosi Dhlodhlo who went into hiding after committing the crime.
A relative of the deceased who spoke to Sunday News said they had stopped all the burial arrangements as they were still trying to engage the suspects’ family members on how they could be compensated for the loss of their loved one.
The relative said the family wanted the suspects to be arrested before any talks could be held.
“What we know is that these suspects were arrested after committing the offence but they mysteriously escaped from police cells and in your last (Sunday News) report, the police denied that these suspects were ever arrested. We have met as the bereaved family and agreed that we will not bury the deceased before any arrests,” said the relative, who declined to be named.
The relative said they also agreed that they would only be engaging the relatives of the suspects on how they could be compensated after the arrest of the suspects.
“Our local traditional leader, Chief Malisa is aware of our position and we will not budge. That is our position because we are aware that the suspects’ relatives know what transpired leading to the suspects’ escape from police cells. They should be assisting the police in hunting down the suspects whom we have heard, are hiding in Tsholotsho,” said the relative.
Chief Malisa confirmed that the deceased’s family set some conditions leading to the burial of their departed relative.
He said he had since appointed a mediator to have the deceased buried before any talks between the two families could be arranged.
“There is a facilitator whom I have appointed to have this issue resolved. We still respect ubuntu and we want the body to be buried and any outstanding issues would be discussed later,” Chief Malisa said.
Police told Sunday News last week that six suspects who were initially arrested following the alleged murder of Ndlovu were picked up for questioning before being released.
The police denied that some of the suspects mysteriously escaped from custody.
