News / National
Murdered over pool tokens worth $1
06 Jun 2015 at 10:06hrs | Views
A 25-YEAR-OLD Mutare man had his life cut short last Thursday when he was murdered in cold blood by a bartender and a security guard at Tandarai Bar in Chikanga Phase 3 high density suburb following an altercation over two pool tokens worth $1.
The spine chilling incident, which suddenly became the talk of the sprawling suburb, was confirmed by Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri who said on the day in question, the now deceased Trymore Mlambo had a misunderstanding with Lazarus Mugova (33) the barman and a security guard, Samuel Chikwanya (32).
"The altercation began when Chikwanya told Mlambo that the bar was closing and the latter refused to go home. He then started to demand his refund of $1 for two pool tokens which he had not used.
"The two refused to give him the money and instead started assaulting him, telling him to leave the premises. Chikwanya and Mugova used booted feet and beer bottles in assaulting Mlambo. The injured Mlambo bled profusely after sustaining cuts, the deepest one on the right upper arm," said Inspector Chishiri.
Mlambo only got help from one well-wisher, a Maudzwa who took him to Mutare Provincial Hospital. He was, however, pronounced dead upon arrival.
A witness, who watched the real life drama from its onset, confided in this newspaper that the now deceased was left in a pool of blood following the attack and only taken to hospital after excessive bleeding. The man who is running the bar, a Sithole blamed the workers at the bar for having taken the law into their own hands, resulting in unnecessary loss of life.
"The barman was about to close shop when the now deceased came inside. The deceased bought two pool tokens, but he was denied time to play his matches since it was time to close the bar. An altercation arose after he demanded his money back.
"The guard shoved him out of the bar while the barman went inside to collect an object that he used against the now deceased. When they phoned me soon after the incident, they only told me about the issue of the door that had been damaged, but deliberately did not tell me about how they had attacked the now deceased.
"I only got to know about it when police phoned me later. It is sad that the workers took the law into their own hands, resulting in unnecessary loss of life.
"If only they had phoned me, I could have attended the scene and solved the problem amicably, just like we have always done whenever they had problems with clients. That is why I have the respect of many of my clients. We do not allow manhandling of customers and they were wrong in doing so," said Sithole.
Insp Chishiri urged members of the public to find ways of solving their disputes and avoid unnecessary loss of human lives.
"We sincerely urge the public to find ways of solving their disputes rather than resorting to violent ways as this may lead to unnecessary loss of human life just like what happened in Chikanga," said Insp Chishiri.
Meanwhile, Chikwanya and Mlambo have been arrested and are now facing murder charges.
The spine chilling incident, which suddenly became the talk of the sprawling suburb, was confirmed by Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri who said on the day in question, the now deceased Trymore Mlambo had a misunderstanding with Lazarus Mugova (33) the barman and a security guard, Samuel Chikwanya (32).
"The altercation began when Chikwanya told Mlambo that the bar was closing and the latter refused to go home. He then started to demand his refund of $1 for two pool tokens which he had not used.
"The two refused to give him the money and instead started assaulting him, telling him to leave the premises. Chikwanya and Mugova used booted feet and beer bottles in assaulting Mlambo. The injured Mlambo bled profusely after sustaining cuts, the deepest one on the right upper arm," said Inspector Chishiri.
Mlambo only got help from one well-wisher, a Maudzwa who took him to Mutare Provincial Hospital. He was, however, pronounced dead upon arrival.
A witness, who watched the real life drama from its onset, confided in this newspaper that the now deceased was left in a pool of blood following the attack and only taken to hospital after excessive bleeding. The man who is running the bar, a Sithole blamed the workers at the bar for having taken the law into their own hands, resulting in unnecessary loss of life.
"The barman was about to close shop when the now deceased came inside. The deceased bought two pool tokens, but he was denied time to play his matches since it was time to close the bar. An altercation arose after he demanded his money back.
"The guard shoved him out of the bar while the barman went inside to collect an object that he used against the now deceased. When they phoned me soon after the incident, they only told me about the issue of the door that had been damaged, but deliberately did not tell me about how they had attacked the now deceased.
"I only got to know about it when police phoned me later. It is sad that the workers took the law into their own hands, resulting in unnecessary loss of life.
"If only they had phoned me, I could have attended the scene and solved the problem amicably, just like we have always done whenever they had problems with clients. That is why I have the respect of many of my clients. We do not allow manhandling of customers and they were wrong in doing so," said Sithole.
Insp Chishiri urged members of the public to find ways of solving their disputes and avoid unnecessary loss of human lives.
"We sincerely urge the public to find ways of solving their disputes rather than resorting to violent ways as this may lead to unnecessary loss of human life just like what happened in Chikanga," said Insp Chishiri.
Meanwhile, Chikwanya and Mlambo have been arrested and are now facing murder charges.
Source - manicapost
