'Wicked' lobola killer to 'rot' in jail

BULAWAYO - A cruel man who strangled his elderly aunt during a fight over how to share $100 in lobola money has been slapped with a life jail term.

Chezati Phiri, 34, murdered Anna Moyo, 69, after she refused to give him a share of the bride price money.

Phiri, of Ndangababi village under Chief Nekatambe in Dete, pleaded not guilty to murder before Justice Lawrence Kamocha, sitting on circuit in Hwange.

But the Bulawayo High Court judge, sitting with assessors Elias Ndlovu and Elizabeth Chazanga, said the evidence was compelling that Phiri voluntarily intoxicated himself to get guts to kill Moyo.

"The court has no hesitation in finding you guilty of murder with intent, you intoxicated yourself to gather Dutch courage," the judge told him.

Justice Kamocha said Phiri was wicked in killing his aunt in what he described as an act of robbery.

"It was a gruesome murder that did not end there, you took the money from her after killing her and bought beer, an inherently wicked act that makes you not fit to be part of society. You're lucky to have escaped the death sentence," said Justice Kamocha.

It emerged during proceedings that Phiri had confronted Moyo's son, July Nyathi, at a beer drink on an unconfirmed date about a share of the lobola, but Nyathi warned him not to discuss family matters in public.

The court heard that an agitated and intoxicated Phiri responded: "If I kill someone, don't hold me accountable."

Moyo's niece, Thobekile Nkiwane, testified that Moyo had told Phiri that he was not entitled to the money by tradition, which was in any case not enough to share among everyone.

Prosecutor Namatirai Ngwasha said on June 5 this year, Moyo received $100 in cash as part of lobola payment for her niece, Nkiwane. Moyo shared the money with her son, Nyathi, who took $40. She kept the remainder for herself.

Phiri, the court heard, had expected a sizeable share from the lobola payment.

Two days later at about 3PM, he arrived home from Cross Dete Business Centre where he had been drinking beer and found Moyo in the company of her daughter-in-law, Ruth Sibanda, and Nkiwane.

Sibanda and Nkiwane soon left the homestead to collect a goat from another homestead while Moyo and Phiri were embroiled in a heated exchange over the lobola money.

"Phiri strangled Moyo after they were left alone at the home. Nkiwane and Sibanda returned after an hour and found Phiri sobbing, claiming that Moyo was dead. The two women tried to render first aid on Moyo to no avail," said the prosecutor.

Phiri's lawyer, Givemore Muvhiringi, argued that Moyo died of natural causes.

"After waking up from a brief rest, Phiri proceeded to Moyo's hut to ask whether Nkiwane and Sibanda had returned from their errand when he discovered that she had passed away. Phiri called the neighbours for assistance," said the lawyer.

"My client admits that he indeed asked Moyo about his share of the lobola money in the presence of Nkiwane and Sibanda but was told to talk to Nyathi concerning his share from the $40."

Muvhiringi said Phiri did not kill Moyo and he had no idea who had committed the heinous strangulation.