The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
A VIGILANTE group of 34 villagers, including 11 Botswana nationals, last week went on a rampage assaulting stock-theft suspects before destroying their homes in Gwanda’s Guyu and Tuli villages.
The incident left one person dead.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the group was tracking their stolen donkeys when the incident occurred.
The group later clashed with other villagers and the skirmishes resulted in murder, kidnapping, assault and malicious damage to property, among other crimes.
“Police are investigating cases of murder, kidnapping, malicious damage to property, assault, stock theft and unlawful entry into premises and theft, which occurred in Guyu and Tuli areas on April 1, 2022 after 34 villagers from Guyu, including 11 Botswana nationals who were tracking their stolen donkeys, teamed up and undertook a door-to-door operation on stock-theft suspects,” read the statement.
“The gang, who were using two unidentified vehicles, went to John West Village, Tuli, where they effected a citizen arrest on Godwill Ndlovu and Justice Ncube on allegations of stock theft after they had recovered 11 donkeys penned at the complainants’ homestead. “They handcuffed the two and took them to five other complainants’ residences where they broke window panes and doors on several homesteads, before demolishing 25 400 rand worth of property, which include refrigerators, sofas, cupboards, beds and a kitchen unit.”
Police added that cash amounting to 9 900 rand and a Mobicell cellular phone were reportedly stolen from the complainants.
“A clash with John West villagers, who repossessed the recovered donkeys, ensued and the team retreated,” the police statement went on.
“However, they took with them Godwill Ndlovu and Justice Ncube, whom they assaulted with sjamboks and wooden sticks at Mashaba Business Centre, Guyu, which resulted in the death of Justice Ncube.”
Police have warned the public from taking the law into their hands.
