Zimbabwean singer axed to death

THE lead singer with a Victoria Falls based group, Chicken Bus, Peter Salimu, was axed to death by a man suspected to be mentally challenged.

Salimu, 50, also a guitarist died on the spot in front of the gate at St Kizito Roman Catholic Church in Chinotimba at around 7PM on Thursday.

While Matabeleland North police press office could not readily confirm the murder, police sources said the suspect Mthokozisi Moyo, 28, was being held for murder while investigations are being carried out.

"The suspect approached the deceased and his wife holding an axe, threatening to kill them. They tried to run away but the deceased tripped and fell before the suspect struck him," said a police source.

"People threw stones to scare him away but Salimu was already dead. He sustained three deep cuts on the right cheek. Members of the public then apprehended the suspect who is suspected to be mentally disturbed and alerted the police."

Salimu and his wife Musatya Chikukula, 44, and a nephew identified as Sindiso Mpala were reportedly standing on the side of the road waiting for transport when tragedy struck, sources said.

Chronicle arrived at the murder scene where scores of people had gathered.

Salimu's relatives were wailing uncontrollably as onlookers struggled to comfort them.

Salimu's niece said her uncle who lived in Mkhosana had visited the family in Chinotimba. "Why would my uncle die like an animal? He had just visited and the next thing he's dead," she said, sobbing.

Detectives had already whisked Moyo away to the police station as the crowd was baying for his blood.

Witnesses said Moyo who is from Lupinyu, 20km out of town, usually roams the streets carrying an axe.

On the fateful day, he had allegedly been chasing after people threatening to axe them.

"Salimu and his wife had visited his sisters here in Chinotimba and found no one at home. They were waiting for transport to go back to Mkhosana when suddenly they saw some people running towards them with an axe-wielding man behind them threatening to attack them. We hear Salimu asked him why he wanted to axe people. The man suddenly charged at him," said a witness.

Residents reportedly rushed to the scene when they heard Chikukula screaming for help and threw stones at Moyo who was repeatedly axing a motionless Salimu.

"Initially we couldn't tell from a distance what was happening when we saw the suspect continuously chopping at something with an axe. We only realised there was danger when we heard a woman screaming saying usebulele indoda yami (He has killed my husband) and rushed to investigate only to find that a man was already dead," said another witness.

The witnesses said after committing the crime, a seemingly unperturbed Moyo repeatedly shouted "bakhawulile bajwayele ukusibophisa (serves them right, they often get us arrested)."

A man from the crowd shouted: "They should have allowed us to teach him a lesson. How could he kill an innocent person?"

Chicken Bus is one of the most famous bands in the resort town and has played at major functions, including the recent 21st February Movement celebrations gala. Other members of the band are Salimu's brother David, Kudzi Alufasi, Amkela Moyo, Edward Kasiya, Sam and Leo.