BRUTAL AXE ATTACKS IN BINGA
Grandpa killed, 2 women injured in witchcraft row Council dodges faeces protest
A MAN from Binga struck an 86-year-old man to death with an axe after accusing him of bewitching him before setting upon two women from the same area with the same weapon, leaving them seriously injured.
Munkuli Mahlabezulu (30) of Minsale village went on a rampage on Sunday between 2PM and 3PM after claiming to have seen visions of Mr Chilemba Mudenda of Siyafugama Village bewitching him.
He allegedly struck Mr Mudenda, who was on his way home from the fields, once on the neck and he died on the spot.
Wielding the bloodied axe, Mahlabezulu allegedly proceeded to Mr James Mwinde’s homestead where he axed his two wives Ms Therezia Munkuli (41) and Ms Sophia Siamuleba (53) after they “misunderstood” him while he was explaining why he had killed Mudenda.
The two women are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at Binga District Hospital.
A police source said: “Mahlabezulu said he killed Mudenda because he suspected that he was bewitching him. He said he had visions and dreams of him doing evil practices on him”.
Mahlabezulu later went to Mr Mwinde’s homestead where a misunderstanding arose as he was explaining to the latter’s wives why he axed Mr Mudenda.
“He struck one of the women on the head once with the axe. He charged towards the other woman whom he struck three times on the head, chest and neck,” said the source.
Chief Saba yesterday said the incident had shocked the community.
“Mahlabezulu is a well respected family man. We are wondering what could have driven him to this frenzied and gruesome killing mode. The now deceased was a pensioner and had returned to stay at his rural home with his wives. He has never clashed with anyone,” said Chief Saba.
He warned villagers against behaving like animals and urged them to respect human life.
A source that preferred anonymity said Mr Mudenda’s wife, Selita (61), found his body in a pool of blood.
“She advised her neighbour Robert Munkuli and together they rushed to the scene,” said the source.
The source said Mr Mwinde’s wives attracted the attention of other villagers with their screams.
“The villagers apprehended Mahlabezulu and handed him over to the police,” added the source.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the murder and attempted murder incidents but could not give details.
“I’m waiting for details,” she said.—@winnie_ masara THE Bulawayo City Council yesterday averted a “faeces protest” by angry residents in Entumbane suburb who say they have been living with raw sewage flowing through their homes for almost two weeks.
The residents resolved to scoop the human waste in buckets and splash it at the council offices in Mabutweni in protest over burst sewer pipes that have become a nightmare in the area.
A sewer specialist company, MAC, which was contracted by council to attend to sewer bursts in the city, arrived in the nick of time as residents had mobilised to carry out their unusual protest.
When The Chronicle arrived in Entumbane yesterday, MAC technicians had just arrived to ease the pressure in the sewer pipes using the jetting system.
Scores of affected residents were anxiously waiting outside their houses for MAC to relieve them from the undesirable stench, which they said had made life unbearable in the suburb.
The angry residents condemned the city council for failing to attend to the situation on time and exposing them to disease outbreaks.
Residents from a section of the suburb had resorted to using toilets and bathrooms at houses in other parts of Entumbane.
“We have sealed chambers in our toilets because raw sewage is spewing from them, spilling into our houses and the streets,” said a fuming resident.
Ms Nomsa Ndlela, whose house was the most affected, said they were miserable as the situation was making it difficult for them to live normal lives.
“It’s been 12 days since we reported these sewer bursts to the city council and we had not received feedback. We then threatened to scoop the raw sewage into buckets and take it to the offices in Mabutweni so that they understand what we’re going through.
“They have been telling us that MAC will come and sort out the problem but they only came today after we made threats. This is unfair because such a situation is a threat to our health,” said Ms Ndlela.
She added that sewage will eventually lead to an outbreak of diseases since flies feed on the waste and sit on their food.
“We can’t allow our children to play outside because of sewage that is all over the place. We have to lock them in the houses but the smell is also unbearable.
“The city council should respond to such cases on time to protect the health of residents. I’m a nurse and I teach people about hygiene, but just look at what is happening where I stay,” said Ms Ndlela.
Mr Cleopas Ngano said the city council had failed to permanently solve the problem of sewer bursts as the pipes become blocked soon after they have been attended to.
“They have come in the past to fix the problem but the pipes burst a few days after they have left. We’re praying that MAC will bring this problem to an end.
“They said they use a different system from council, which is permanent. We’re appealing to the BCC to respond on time when we make such reports. We’re paying rates to the council, we therefore expect the local authority to respond on time,” said Mr Ngano.
Bulawayo City Council public relations officer, Ms Bongiwe Ngwenya, yesterday said she would find out why it took long for the sewer bursts to be attended to.
She said MAC was in September last year awarded the tender to clear sewer blockages from identified and prioritised sewer lines in the city on an “as and when required” basis.
“This is a one year contract valued at $500 000. MAC has so far cleared stubborn blockages in Luveve catchment which includes Gwabalanda, Luveve, Magwegwe and Emakhandeni.
“We’ll make a follow up and find out why the sewer blockage in Entumbane was not attended to on time,” said Ms Ngwenya.—@pamelashumba1