Murder shocks city

The recent murder of a Gweru woman allegedly by her teenage son has left relatives and residents of this otherwise peaceful city shocked.

Although close relatives and neighbours were well aware that Kudakwashe Ashley Sibanda (19) always gave her mother trouble, they never thought he could be so heartless.

Kudakwashe allegedly stabbed his mother Babra Sibanda seven times on the left side of the chest, killing her on the spot and locked the body inside the house.

He is accused of stealing his mother's Nissan Bluebird and proceeded to Total garage in the city where he made attendants fill the tank and drove off without paying. Kudakwashe went for joyrides with prostitutes on a three-day drinking spree.

When news of the murder began spreading, he fled to Harare where, on his way, he ran over a pedestrian at Norton and killed him. Kudakwashe now faces three counts - murder, culpable homicide and theft.

His actions have left his friends and relatives with unanswered questions and Gweru residents dumbfounded. According to relatives interviewed by The Herald, Kudakwashe always gave his mother a torrid time. "This was bound to happen one of the days because we knew Kudakwashe as a spoilt brat," said a relative who refused to be named.

"His mother loved him so much and would give him everything he wanted. "He was a mama's boy and she gave him special treatment." People close to the family said problems started when Kudakwashe was expelled from Thornhill High School for stealing a vehicle that belonged to his teacher.

He was also in the habit of stealing from fellow pupils. Kudakwashe would steal money from his mother and demanded huge sums of money from her. His sister, Audrey Nyaradzo Sibanda, would sometimes send him money so that he would not bother their mother.

Before the murder, Kudakwashe had been arrested for stealing $900 from a tenant before he stole the tenant's car and went for a beer binge with friends. For his actions, Kudakwashe was convicted and sentenced to performing community service at Lundi Primary School.

He once stole $100 from school authorities at Thornhill and his mother had to restitute the school to save him from going to prison, as the case would have attracted a custodial sentence as a repeat offender. Kudakwashe's friends said he was addicted to beer at a tender age and was also into drugs.

There was chaos at Mrs Sibanda's funeral wake as Kudakwashe's siblings, McDonald and Audrey, quarrelled with their uncle who was demanding 10 beasts as compensation for the murder.

The heated argument opened the Pandora's box, as it emerged that Kudakwashe was a half brother to his three other siblings Munyaradzi, Mcdonald and Audrey.

It was divulged during the no holds barred verbal war that Mrs Sibanda allegedly cheated on her late husband and football legend Willie Sibanda and had Kudakwashe with her unknown lover.

"Audrey openly told their uncle who was demanding compensation from her and her brothers that Kudakwashe was not of their blood and they could not be held responsible for his actions," said a relative. Munyaradzi, Audrey and McDonald looked distraught during the funeral wake.

McDonald barred other people from taking food to Kudakwashe in prison. When asked about his opinion on the murder he said: "I don't think this is the right time to discuss such issues. I think we will have to find another day to discuss this".

Audrey shared the same sentiments. "As a family, we are still failing to come to grips with the untimely death of our mother," she said. "We might release a statement later as a family, but for now we are grieving and we might not be at liberty to give you any information."

Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe executive moderator Bishop Johannes Ndanga attributed Kudakwashe's behaviour to evil spirits, culture erosion and westernisation. "The bible says honour thy father and thy mother and this is the fourth commandment," he said.

"What this young man did shows that he was being used by the devil. This might also be the effects of violent films that young people are obsessed with. Our culture and religion have been eroded. "However, God says we should always forgive and the relatives must learn to forgive the child because this will also help in his rehabilitation."