Amarriage of 31 years ended tragically after a gang of 13 in-laws allegedly teamed up to beat a Zhombe man to death for assaulting their sister in a dispute over beans.
The man’s family has since demanded 32 head of cattle as compensation, of which 15 have since been paid.
Mpendulo Nyoni (55) beat up the mother of his four children, Sichelesile Dube (52), sometime in May 2026 after she allegedly sold some beans from their harvest without his knowledge.
Sichelesile fled to her brothers, who organised a crew of 13 relatives that started hunting Nyoni down.
Nyoni’s sister, Nokuthula, said her brother started living in a thicket and going home only after midnight as his in-laws searched for him while travelling in two scotch carts.
“He sent me a message saying he feared for his life and had started living in the bush, surviving on raw sweet potatoes.
“He said if his in-laws killed him, we should not bury him, but we should burn his body,” said Nokuthula.
She said disaster struck on May 20 when the in-laws tracked Nyoni down around midnight.
“They beat him up thoroughly. They broke both his arms and legs and stabbed him several times.
“They assaulted him at two locations and did rituals at each spot. At one location, they killed a cock and a hen, spilled the blood, roasted the meat and left the entrails and heads.
“At another spot, they disembowelled a goat and did a similar ritual,” she said.
Nokuthula said the 13 looted livestock and other property from the home before leaving a severely injured Mpendulo to die.
He died on the same day and was buried on May 26, 2026.
“We want everyone involved in my brother’s death to be arrested and prosecuted according to Zimbabwean law,” Nokuthula said.
She added that the in-laws stole her brother’s phone during the assault.
The family believes this was done to hide evidence.
“The killing was so gruesome we wonder what was going through our daughter-in-law’s mind as she watched her brothers beating up her husband of 31 years.
They have four children together.
The eldest is 31 years old and the youngest is sitting Form Four examinations this year.”
She said their in-laws told the police that the people who assaulted Mpendulo had fled and named only six suspects, hiding the identities of the other seven.
In a recent interview, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the case was set to be heard at the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court.
The six suspects are Sichelesile Dube, Nkululeko Dube (27), Julia Dube (26), Terence Dube (25), Mbongeni Dube (27) and Disay Dube (24).
Only Sichelesile and Terence had been arrested.
He said Sichelesile was out on bail, while the other suspects were still at large.
“Mpendulo Nyoni had assaulted his wife due to a dispute at home.
“The wife went and told the family, who attacked Mpendulo in Majoli village, under Chief Mlisa, on May 20, 2026,” Comm Nyathi said.
“The other suspects the police named are on the run and the police are appealing to members of the public who know their whereabouts to come forward. All evidence is still being gathered to present before the courts.
“The matter is under investigation.” — Midlands Bureau
Gwanda granny arrested
for allegedly axing
husband to death
A 63-year-old granny from Gwanda has been arrested for allegedly killing her husband aged 70 by striking him with an axe on the head.
Miriam Ndlovu, from Matshetsheni village, struck Harold Ngwenya twice in the head with an axe while trying to stop him from assaulting her daughter. The victim was, however, Ngwenya’s stepdaughter.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Stanford Mguni confirmed the incident, which occurred on August 11, 2026, around 5pm.
“On August 11, 2026, at around 5pm, the now-deceased Harold Ngwenya was at home together with his wife — who is the accused person — and Happiness Ndlovu, who is their daughter. The now-deceased had an altercation with his stepdaughter, who went on to accuse him of being a witch,” he said.
“Ngwenya struck his stepdaughter with the back part of an axe on the upper left eye and the accused person refrained Ngwenya from further assaulting her daughter. During the melee, the accused person overpowered Ngwenya, took the axe and struck him twice on the head. Ngwenya fell to the ground and died on the spot,” he added.
Asst Insp Mguni said the matter was reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest. Ngwenya’s body was ferried to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary.
“The accused person has been arrested and investigations are underway. We urge members of the public to desist from engaging in violence when faced with disputes. In this case, the couple could have engaged traditional leaders or family members in order to resolve their dispute. We also discourage carrying of dangerous weapons, as they end up being used to commit such offences,” said Asst Insp Ngwenya. — Matabeleland South Bureau
Sakubva man sought after stabbing relative over food
A Sakubva man is lucky to be alive after he was reportedly stabbed in the stomach by a relative following a dispute over food.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, which occurred in Sakubva, Mutare.
He said Nyasha Bvongwe (32) was attacked by his relative, Simba Bvongwe (29), after a misunderstanding over food.
Asst Insp Chinyoka said the incident occurred outside the house.
“Nyasha was outside the house smoking a cigarette while the accused person was fixing a base bed with a kitchen knife. A misunderstanding arose after Nyasha took food that was in the house and did not give some of it to Simba,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
An incensed Simba is alleged to have then turned the knife on his relative.
“Simba got emotional and stabbed Nyasha once in the stomach. Nyasha sustained an injury and was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for treatment. He is in a stable condition,” he said.
Officers from ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) Sakubva attended the scene shortly after the incident, but the suspect had already fled.
Asst Insp Chinyoka said Simba remains at large and the police have launched a manhunt for him. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the stabbing are ongoing. — Manicaland Bureau
Man bludgeons woman to death with wheel spanner
In a fit of rage, a Bulawayo man indiscriminately hit a woman with a wheel spanner all over her body, resulting in her death in hospital days later.
Police in Bulawayo immediately launched a manhunt for Francis Lunga, who allegedly committed the offence in Nkulumane 12 on April 4, 2026.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown, while the relationship between the victim and the accused also remains unclear.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said Lunga disappeared after battering Sithandiweyinkosi Kunetha with the spanner.
“It is alleged that the accused person assaulted the now-deceased Sithandiweyinkosi Kunetha with a wheel spanner all over the body,” said Insp Msebele.
Concerted efforts to save Kunetha’s life were unsuccessful, as she died from her injuries two days later. “The now-deceased was referred to hospital, where she was admitted. Sadly, she succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault on April 6, 2026,” she said.
Insp Msebele urged anyone with details on Lunga’s whereabouts to come forward.
“We urge members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused person to report at any nearest police station or contact ZRP Nkulumane on 0292-496756/481145 or the investigating officer, Assistant Inspector Mabhunu, on 0778672706 or 0712923304,” she said. — Bulawayo Bureau
