News / Local
Six Dembare supporters arrested in connection with murder of Bosso fan
13 Aug 2014 at 08:13hrs | Views
SIX suspected Dynamos Football Club supporters have been charged in connection with Saturday's murder of a Highlanders Football Club fan after the volatile Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Barbourfileds Stadium.
Thembelenkosini Hloli of Sizinda was allegedly stabbed in the stomach at Renkini long-
distance bus terminus after he was chased down by a Toyota Noah that had Dynamos supporters.
He was, alongside a group of fellow Highlanders supporters, accused of stoning the car after the skirmishes that began after the final whistle.
Police yesterday successfully sought the detention of the six for another 48 more hours at a makeshift court presided over by Bulawayo magistrate Victor Mpofu.
Two more suspects were charged for malicious damage to property after they were fingered in the stoning of the car that was carrying Dynamos fans and they will appear in court on Thursday.
"Six of them were murder suspects and were further detained in police holding cells," a court official said.
"The other pair facing malicious damage to property is in remand prison."
The police had to take the murder suspects to court to seek a warrant of further detention because it is illegal to detain suspects for a period of 48 hours before bringing them to an open court.
The other two were remanded in Remand Prison to Thursday where they will come back to court for plea recording.
However, obtaining names of suspects proved difficult as court officials told Southern Eye that
offices has been closed for holidays.
Police have also not been available to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, Hloli's family was yesterday struggling to raise funds to transport his body for burial at his rural home in Sogwala, Lower Gweru, tomorrow morning.
His father, Smart, said the body was at the United Bulawayo Hospitals awaiting a post mortem.
"I am hopeful that the post mortem will be carried out tomorrow (today) and we will be leaving for Sogwala via Sizinda where we will pick up friends and relatives," he said.
"We appeal to well-wishers to help with funds to meet the transport costs. I am not employed. I am based in the rural areas and money is hard to come by, especially when something which is not planned for occurs.
"One of my daughters has managed to buy a coffin for her brother, but we still have other logistical problems that include food for the mourners."
Hloli had just enrolled for an apprenticeship at the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede visited the Hloli family on Monday to pay his condolences. He said the Highlanders executive would meet today and Hloli's death is likely to be on the agenda.
"I visited the bereaved family as the deceased was a Bosso fan. It's a tradition in Africa that once death occurs people go and pay their condolences to the affected family" he said.
"This means that Highlanders Football Club will also today (yesterday) go to Sizinda to pay their condolences to the family.
"It is unfortunate that this happened during the holidays and I am sure that my executive will meet tomorrow (today) and see what can be done materially to assist towards the burial of the Bosso fan."
Mourners are gathered at house number 67039/2 Sizinda Flats.
Thembelenkosini Hloli of Sizinda was allegedly stabbed in the stomach at Renkini long-
distance bus terminus after he was chased down by a Toyota Noah that had Dynamos supporters.
He was, alongside a group of fellow Highlanders supporters, accused of stoning the car after the skirmishes that began after the final whistle.
Police yesterday successfully sought the detention of the six for another 48 more hours at a makeshift court presided over by Bulawayo magistrate Victor Mpofu.
Two more suspects were charged for malicious damage to property after they were fingered in the stoning of the car that was carrying Dynamos fans and they will appear in court on Thursday.
"Six of them were murder suspects and were further detained in police holding cells," a court official said.
"The other pair facing malicious damage to property is in remand prison."
The police had to take the murder suspects to court to seek a warrant of further detention because it is illegal to detain suspects for a period of 48 hours before bringing them to an open court.
The other two were remanded in Remand Prison to Thursday where they will come back to court for plea recording.
However, obtaining names of suspects proved difficult as court officials told Southern Eye that
offices has been closed for holidays.
Police have also not been available to comment on the incident.
His father, Smart, said the body was at the United Bulawayo Hospitals awaiting a post mortem.
"I am hopeful that the post mortem will be carried out tomorrow (today) and we will be leaving for Sogwala via Sizinda where we will pick up friends and relatives," he said.
"We appeal to well-wishers to help with funds to meet the transport costs. I am not employed. I am based in the rural areas and money is hard to come by, especially when something which is not planned for occurs.
"One of my daughters has managed to buy a coffin for her brother, but we still have other logistical problems that include food for the mourners."
Hloli had just enrolled for an apprenticeship at the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede visited the Hloli family on Monday to pay his condolences. He said the Highlanders executive would meet today and Hloli's death is likely to be on the agenda.
"I visited the bereaved family as the deceased was a Bosso fan. It's a tradition in Africa that once death occurs people go and pay their condolences to the affected family" he said.
"This means that Highlanders Football Club will also today (yesterday) go to Sizinda to pay their condolences to the family.
"It is unfortunate that this happened during the holidays and I am sure that my executive will meet tomorrow (today) and see what can be done materially to assist towards the burial of the Bosso fan."
Mourners are gathered at house number 67039/2 Sizinda Flats.
Source - Newsday
