Bloodshed after cellphone theft

A Bulawayo man was brutally stabbed to death in a suspected mob justice attack after being accused of stealing a cellphone from a fellow reveller at a sports bar in Nkenyane, along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road. The gruesome incident, which occurred over the weekend, has left the local community reeling in fear.

According to police, the altercation began inside the bar with a verbal argument and quickly escalated into violence. The victim, identified as Bongani Khanye, was attacked by a group of unidentified men who allegedly dragged him outside and stabbed him multiple times, leaving him to die by the roadside.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway to locate the assailants.

"We can confirm that a man was found dead on the road directly opposite a sports bar in Nkenyane. The people who murdered him have not yet been identified and investigations are underway," said Inspector Msebele. "We want to strongly warn residents against mob justice. These actions often result in the unnecessary loss of life, as we have seen in this tragic case."

Eyewitnesses say the attack was swift and vicious. Nomathemba Moyo, who works near the bar, said the dispute started when Khanye was accused of stealing a cellphone during a drinking session.

"There was an argument inside the bar, and minutes later, a group of about six men stormed in. They went straight for Bongani and started beating him. I saw knives and blood. It was terrifying. I ran away and didn't look back," she said.

Another local, Herman Rushambwe, said he witnessed the chaos from a distance while working in nearby fields.

"I saw people fighting, but I couldn't make out who was involved. Later, we heard someone had been killed," he said.

The violent episode has shaken residents of Nkenyane, who now fear for their own safety. "People are scared," said Sehliselo Sibanda, a local villager. "If these men are not caught, who knows what they'll do next? We are not safe."

Police have appealed to the public for information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects. Authorities are urging communities to report crimes through proper channels and avoid resorting to vigilante justice.

The case is being treated as murder, and anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the nearest police station.