The Sunday News
Dumani Moyo Sunday News Reporter
A 19-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwean was reportedly beaten to death by three friends in Botswana last week after he beat them in a game of cards.
Trymore Tshuma from Lupane, was murdered at Mathengwane village, 25 kilometres from Francistown. Contacted for comment, officials from Tatitown police station in Botswana, under which the village falls, said they were still to arrest the alleged killers.
Narrating the ordeal, a source told Sunday News there were rumours that Tshuma was killed by one of his Zimbabwean friends and two Batswana who allegedly hit him with heavy objects on the head.
“According to my understanding, two boys together with one of his Zimbabwean friends, entered the place where Tshuma was working and had some fun with him betting in a game of cards. He reportedly won on several occasions and the friends lost a cellphone and an Okapi knife to him. After the game, they told him that there was a piece job they should do with him during the day while Tshuma’s boss was away.
“They then went out with him and people who saw Tshuma being pulled, overheard the men demanding their cellphone and knife back. When the boss received news that his employee had been taken by some men he followed them. Unfortunately, when he got there he had been killed just about 2km away from his work place. When the police got there they could not find the specific people who murdered him,” said the source.
Mrs Landiwe Tshuma, who is an aunt to the deceased, told Sunday News that she stayed with Tshuma in Cowdray Park for only three months before he left for Botswana with his friend from Kwekwe, whom she suspects was involved in his killing.
“UTrymore ngihlale laye okwesikhatshana lapha koBulawayo (I stayed with Trymore for a short period here in Bulawayo). After three months, in April he told me of going to Botswana with his friend. I did not have a chance to meet his friend but what I understand is that he is from Kwekwe. I think he is the only person who knows what happened to our child,” said his aunt.
Mr Joe Nkomo, another relative, told this reporter there might be more to the incident.
“I do not think our son was just killed for winning in the game of cards. I think there is something big behind this and we will try our best to assist in catching these people,” said Mr Nkomo.
Mr Tshuma’s employer could not be reached for comment.
The deceased was buried last Saturday at Ngombani village in Jotsholo.
