Herdboy kills man in fight over family shovel

A TSHOLOTSHO man was at the weekend fatally stabbed with a knife by a fellow villager following a misunderstanding over the ownership of a shovel.

Police yesterday arrested Mthabisi Ndlovu, 22, of Mukono line, Tsholotsho for allegedly stabbing Kidron Madida to death. Ndlovu is employed as a herdboy by Misheck Mlilo of Nshaba village under Chief Mahlathini.

Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson, Sergeant Namatirai Mashona said on Saturday at around 9AM Madida and Ndlovu had the misunderstanding while fetching water from Manzamnyama River. They later met on the same day at the homestead of Madida's cousin Brighton Ndlovu. The dispute escalated, resulting in the fatal stabbing.

"I can confirm that we've arrested Mthabisi Ndlovu a male adult aged 22 in connection with the fatal stabbing of Kidron Madida following a misunderstanding over the ownership of a shovel," said Sgt Mashona.

"Ndlovu and Madida started quarrelling again over the shovel issue that night resulting in Ndlovu pulling out a silver flick Okapi knife from his trouser pocket which he used to stab deceased once below his left arm pit."

After committing the crime, Ndlovu allegedly fled. Madida ran out of the hut for about six metres, fell to the ground and died. Efforts to resuscitate him by pouring water failed as he was already dead. A report was made to police in Tsholotsho who attended the scene and later arrested Ndlovu.

Saul Nyoni, uncle to deceased, opened up on the misunderstanding over the shovel. "Mthabisi demanded the shovel from Kidron saying it belonged to his employer Mlilo. However, the two families are related and Kidron tried to explain that the shovel originally belonged to his grandmother although all the other families still used it," he said.

"The two almost fought but were restrained by other people who were at the river. Mthabisi took the shovel but it seems there was a grudge, more than just the shovel issue." Nyoni said Ndlovu was seen drinking opaque beer with a friend and later that night started hunting for Madida.

"He asked his friend to escort him back to his place to pick up his knife. We assume the pair had it all planned. "They headed to where Madida stayed, his grandmother's place but didn't find him. They thought of looking for him at his cousin's place where he sometimes puts up," he said.

Nyoni said when they got to Madida's cousin's bedroom hut, Ndlovu knocked. He pushed the door asking for Madida and found him. Before Madida could respond, Ndlovu drew his flick knife from his pockets and stabbed him once under his left armpit and immediately fled from the scene.

"We suspect he hit him straight in the heart," he said. Ward 16 Councillor Patrick Ngwenya said the rest of the family and neighbours were informed of the alleged murder.

"Madida only walked six steps from the bedroom hut and fell to the ground and died on the spot. Ndlovu had tried to run away but later returned to his home where we found him asleep and surrendered him to police," he said.

Nshaba village head, Ngetsha Nkomo said serious vetting was needed on people being employed in their wards as herdboys due to an increase in criminal activities.

Last week, the police National Coordinator Anti-stock Theft Unit Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza urged people to seek police assistance if they want to establish the records of those seeking employment as herdboys. He said most of the herdboys turn out to be criminals.

"These people are usually unknown to the local people and most of them will be running away from their criminal records," said Snr Asst Comm Makodza.