Family threaten to dump murder victim's body

THE family of the man who was allegedly killed by an injiva who had reportedly found him in bed with his wife has threatened to dump the body at the injiva's family house unless the assailant's family apologises.

Tatenda Mahove (24) was allegedly beaten to death by Nobukhosi Ndlovu, who was reportedly in the company of seven accomplices.

Ndlovu (27) accused Mahove of bedding his wife, Ms Esther Phiri (24).

In an interview yesterday, Mahove's brother, Mr Tawanda Mahove (32), said there would be no burial if Ndlovu's family continued being arrogant.

"My brother's body will either rot in the mortuary at United Bulawayo Hospitals or we will dump it at the Ndlovu family residence. He is now their meat and as far as we are concerned, they can eat it," said Mr Mahove.

He said his family was angry because it has since emerged that Ndlovu had separated from his wife. "When the Phiri family came here to talk to us, they said Ndlovu had told them that he was no longer in love with their daughter and did not want to continue living with her. He then killed my brother who had fallen in love with her and they were living together at a house which my brother was renting," said Mr Mahove.

He said when they called the Ndlovu family to discuss the matter, the family was uncooperative.

"They were stubborn as if they were saying likhawulile. Initially, they refused to come to speak to us, saying we should meet at Nkulumane Police Station. They finally came here with a police escort and disrespectfully refused to enter the house," he said.

Mr Mahove said during the meeting they had with the Phiri family, they were told that Ndlovu often bragged that it was not the first time that he had beaten people to death.

"In fact, they said he often boasted that he killed two people in South Africa. We are not demanding compensation, we are simply saying they should come to us and talk like human beings who are sorry for what their son has done," said Mr Mahove.

He said he was not happy that the Ndlovu and Phiri families left his brother to die when they held a meeting at the house after he had been assaulted.

"He was alive when they left him but he was seriously injured. Instead of calling for an ambulance, they all left him. Initially, I was angry with Ms Phiri but her family has shown that they are sorry. They have been here and we have been talking," he said.

Mr Mahove's elder brother, Mr Joseph Taderera (33), said the Ndlovu family had also been unwilling to assist with funeral expenses.

"That is why we are saying they are not sorry. In Shona we say munhu anoita mari yezvikwambo haishandi parufu. Vabereki vake vakaramba pavakanzwa kuti tirikuda rubatsiro (blood money cannot be used for funeral expenses. The parents were uncooperative when we asked for assistance) and they said they were not able to release funds," said Mr Taderera.

He said they would give their parents money to go back to their rural home and break up the funeral wake.

On the fateful day, Ndlovu allegedly pretended to be a malayitsha who had brought groceries for Ms Phiri, knocked on the door and slapped her when she opened the door.

His accomplices allegedly entered the house and took turns to assault Mahove for more than four hours.

They are said to have left him seriously injured.

It is suspected that he later died from the injuries.

On Tuesday, the police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said a manhunt had been launched for Ndlovu.

It could not be established by the time of going to Press whether police had made any arrests in connection with the case.