Mourners arrested for killing burglar breaking into house next door

Four men attending a funeral in Bhule Village, Tsholotsho, have been arrested for allegedly beating a suspected burglar to death after catching him trying to break into a nearby home.

The incident occurred on June 13, 2025, in Matabeleland North province, and has since drawn sharp attention to the dangers of mob justice.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests in a statement released this week.

"Police in Tsholotsho arrested Musa Donga (45), Nkosilathi Nkomo (56), Benjamin Moyo (51), and Calbert Nkomo (45) in connection with the murder of Somiso Ndlovu (45) in Bhule Village on June 13," said Nyathi.

According to police reports, the four suspects were attending a local funeral when they allegedly caught Ndlovu in the act of attempting to break into a neighbouring house. They are accused of taking justice into their own hands, fatally assaulting the man at the scene.

Authorities have urged members of the public to refrain from engaging in acts of vigilante justice and to report suspected criminals to law enforcement instead.

In a separate incident in Tengwe, Mashonaland West, police also arrested a man over the gruesome murder of his teenage niece.

"Police in Tengwe arrested Advice Pendi (32) on June 11, 2025, for allegedly killing his 15-year-old niece, Mavis Pendi, whom he accused of being in a romantic relationship with an unidentified man," Nyathi said.

The motive behind the killing is under investigation, and Pendi remains in custody.

Both cases highlight ongoing concerns about gender-based violence and community responses to crime, with authorities continuing to stress the importance of due process and lawful conduct.