Man killed over isitshwala
A MAN who was employed as a part time sweeper and security guard at Chief Siansali’s restaurant in Binga ran amok last Wednesday and stabbed a Kariangwe Mission Clinic worker following a misunderstanding over a plate of isitshwala.
Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson Sergeant Namatirai Mashona confirmed the incident although she said details could only be provided by police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba who could not be immediately contacted.
Villagers told Sunday News that the incident happened on Wednesday at about 4pm when Zibusiso Ndlovu, a data capture clerk at Kariangwe Clinic and a colleague arrived at the restaurant to buy isitshwala.
It is alleged Million Muleya, who was guarding the restaurant first blocked the two. Later there was a misunderstanding with the deceased over the plate of isitshwala he had bought when Muleya confronted Ndlovu, accusing him of not paying.
It is said a fight ensued and when Muleya was overpowered he rushed to the kitchen and returned with a knife and stabbed Ndlovu once on the chest.
It is claimed that on the fateful day, Muleya was allegedly drunk after he was paid $3 for digging a rubbish pit.
Efforts to save Ndlovu were in vain as he succumbed to the stab wound on arrival at Binga District Hospital.
His body was then taken to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for a post-mortem and he was buried yesterday.
Muleya was subsequently arrested and is set to appear in court soon facing a murder charge.
When Sunday News visited the Ndlovu homestead in Lukosi, family members expressed shock at the death.
“We are still in shock over the news of our son’s tragic death, the pain we are going through as a family is unimaginable. Zibusiso, who was a clerk had just been transferred from Lukosi Hospital to work at Kariangwe Clinic in Binga in April.
“He was excited over the transfer as he saw it as an opportunity to see other places outside of where he was born. Barely three months into his transfer we receive painful news that he has been stabbed to death by an unidentified man for no reason whatsoever, it really hurts us. The chief (Siansali) was here to pay his respects and explain to us what had happened. He also wanted to dispel reports that the man was his bodyguard,” said a family member.
Chief Siansali and his wife who visited the family on Friday denied the alleged killer was his aide but that he was employed on a part time basis at his restaurant to clean the place.
“This is a very tragic incident which has left even the Binga community shell-shocked. The man who is said to have killed Ndlovu used to sleep on the veranda of my restaurant and I felt for him and would from time to time allow him to sweep the place after which I would either pay him with cash or food. He was not my bodyguard but just a person we reached out to assist,” said Chief Siansali.