Bulawayo man killed over cellphone debt

Two Bulawayo men allegedly killed their roommate over an undisclosed debt and hid his body overnight before making a false report to the police to conceal the alleged murder, it has been learnt.

This came to light yesterday during the initial court appearance of Thabani Tshuma (34) and Mkhululi Ncube (32) of Burombo Flats, on a murder charge.

They were not formally charged and were both remanded in custody to November 28. Malvern Nzombe for the State told the court the pair and the now deceased whose name was not mentioned in court shared a room at the Burombo bachelors' quarters in Nguboyenja.

He said the now deceased owed both Ncube and Tshuma an undisclosed amount of money. However, on November 9 the deceased went home at around 7pm and while inside he was approached by Ncube who asked for his money.

The court heard a misunderstanding broke out and later degenerated into a scuffle. As the two were pushing and shoving, Tshuma, who was also allegedly being owed some money by the deceased over a cellphone deal, joined in the scuffle.

The pair allegedly armed themselves with iron rods and a small axe which they used to kill the man.

They allegedly hid the body overnight and the following day told the police they had found him dead.

But police investigations led to their arrest over the man's death.