News / Regional
Plumtree mafia rapes, kills 'girlfriend'
15 Oct 2014 at 06:49hrs | Views
PLUMTREE - IN an incident which has left Madlambuzi villagers shell-shocked, the bandit who allegedly raped a Grade Seven pupil and his friend's mother recently, has reportedly raped and killed another woman.
Limukani Sibanda, 24, a serial criminal who is on the run, raped and killed his unnamed girlfriend from Hingwe area last Friday.
Police have indicated that they received a report on the incident but are still to verify the allegations. His relatives in Plumtree said they received the news of Sibanda's latest offence from other relatives.
"There's a girl that Limukani was dating who is from Hingwe area and we received news that she's been murdered by him. The details that we've are sketchy as we're yet to find out what exactly transpired," said Sibanda's elder brother.
Hingwe villagers said they were even more afraid after Limukani's latest gory strike because their nearest police post was more than 20km away in Madlambuzi.
But police said they have intensified their hunt for the suspect as they deployed the dog section to affected villages. Sibanda is suspected to be hiding within the area.
Officer commanding Bulilima and Mangwe Districts, Chief Superintendent Macdonald Samuriwo, assured members of the public that they would have the culprit behind bars soon. He referred further questions to Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Philani Ndebele who said he was out of office and so could not comment.
Tsukuru village head, Doubt Moyo, said the new development had worsened fear among villagers where Sibanda first struck.
A number of villagers from the area have launched a manhunt of their own for the culprit.
Women from the area have also expressed their fear and unwillingness to accompany their children to school.
A number of pupils from the area have in the past been victims of rape as they have to pass through bushy areas to reach the school, about 20km away.
Limukani Sibanda, 24, a serial criminal who is on the run, raped and killed his unnamed girlfriend from Hingwe area last Friday.
Police have indicated that they received a report on the incident but are still to verify the allegations. His relatives in Plumtree said they received the news of Sibanda's latest offence from other relatives.
"There's a girl that Limukani was dating who is from Hingwe area and we received news that she's been murdered by him. The details that we've are sketchy as we're yet to find out what exactly transpired," said Sibanda's elder brother.
Hingwe villagers said they were even more afraid after Limukani's latest gory strike because their nearest police post was more than 20km away in Madlambuzi.
But police said they have intensified their hunt for the suspect as they deployed the dog section to affected villages. Sibanda is suspected to be hiding within the area.
Officer commanding Bulilima and Mangwe Districts, Chief Superintendent Macdonald Samuriwo, assured members of the public that they would have the culprit behind bars soon. He referred further questions to Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Philani Ndebele who said he was out of office and so could not comment.
Tsukuru village head, Doubt Moyo, said the new development had worsened fear among villagers where Sibanda first struck.
A number of villagers from the area have launched a manhunt of their own for the culprit.
Women from the area have also expressed their fear and unwillingness to accompany their children to school.
A number of pupils from the area have in the past been victims of rape as they have to pass through bushy areas to reach the school, about 20km away.
Source - Chronicle
