Death knife found at Obert Mpofu's home

A MAN died after being stabbed following a row over a snooker game - and the blood-stained knife turned up at a minister's homestead.

Police are holding an employee of Transport Minister Dr Obert Mpofu over the murder at Ngoma Village in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North.

Three other men - Witness Phiri, Believe Phiri, Ishmael Moyo - all believed to be soldiers, have also been arrested over the murder of 28-year-old Bhekinkosi Ndlovu.

Moyo's father, David, is the local councillor.

Investigators say the quartet - including Dr Mpofu's employee identified only as Osama - were drinking and taking turns to play snooker for small bets at Osiyabalandela Bar.

Ndlovu and his mate, one Mvelo, were playing against two of the soldiers when a drunk local disrupted the game and sank the black ball - ending the game.

Dick Mthakathi, Ndlovu's brother-in-law, said: "An argument ensued when the soldiers challenged Bheki and Mvelo saying they had lost the game and demanding to be paid the R5 stake. The row continued until the bar was closed and that is the last time I saw them."

William Sibanda, another witness, said the  quartet pursued Mvelo and attempted to stab him but only managed to rip his jacket as he managed to get away.

"Bheki decided to follow his friend and met the suspects on their way back. They stabbed him once on his left ribcage with an Okapi, beat up the young boy he was walking with and fled from the scene," he told Chronicle.

Ndlovu's wife, Sinqobile Moyo, 23, told of the moment she found her husband fighting for his life in a pool of blood.

She said: "I decided to go and look for him because it was getting very late and he had not come home. Along the pathway, I saw a figure that was wriggling on the ground. I shone a light with my phone and saw that it was my husband.

"He said to me, uBelieve Phiri ungigwazile  lesquad sakhe (Believe Phiri and his squad stabbed me).

"I rushed to his uncle and we called the police. When the ambulance came, I was hoping he would live but he died on the way, at about 2am."

Councillor Moyo, who is also the village head, rejected claims by local villagers that his son was a murderer.

"Mntanami khona vele kungafiwa abantu bakhuluma izinto ezinengi (It is the norm that when a person dies, people say a lot of things)," he said.

"If you want to hear lies ask me, if you want the truth ask those who saw it, mina bengingekho.

"I was at mdala's home (Minister Mpofu) when the police came and took away this boy they call Osama who works at the Minister's house saying he had been fighting last night.

"They never mentioned somebody had been killed. It's only later when the police came to search the room that I learnt somebody had died in the fight.

"The police did not find anything in their search initially. After interrogating him (Osama), he directed them to the Okapi that had blood."

When Chronicle visited Nyamandlovu yesterday, the suspects were making indications to the investigating officers at the crime scene.

On the ground was a dark stain - indicating where Ndlovu fell. His wife, accompanied by relatives, sobbed uncontrollably.

One of the suspects, who was in leg irons, seemed unmoved as he leisurely smoked a cigarette.

CID officers at the scene declined to answer questions.

Last night, Minister Mpofu said he was shocked to learn of the murder - but said he had full trust in the police.

"I'm glad that they have been caught (the alleged killers)," he said.

Chronicle understands Osama is a casual worker at Mpofu's homestead and lives in the staff quarters.