Masendeke freed on bail

A KWEKWE man who killed a rival suitor after he caught him being intimate with his girlfriend was yesterday released on $100 bail.

Ernest Masendeke (32), was arrested last week after he allegedly teamed up with two unidentified accomplices and murdered Happiness Machaba after he caught him being intimate with his girlfriend Cynthia Mhlanga.

Kwekwe magistrate Mr Storey Rushambwa ordered Masendeke to deposit $100 with the clerk of court and not to interfere with State witnesses and police investigations.

Mr Rushambwa also ordered Masendeke to report once a week at Mbizo Police Station and to continue residing at his given address pending finalisation of his case.

Masendeke’s lawyer, Mr Nomore Hlabano of Hlabano Legal Practitioners had argued that his client was not a flight risk since he had turned himself in.

“My client is the one who turned himself in after the incident and has been co-operating with the police and assisting them with their investigations,” said Hlabano.

He said Masendeke was not responsible for the murder.

“My client is innocent on that one, otherwise he would have fled from the police, but rather, he turned himself in.

“He did not take part in the assault that killed the complainant,” argued Hlabano.

The State alleges that on April 12 around 3.30am, Masendeke in the company of his two colleagues, visited Mhlanga at her house in Mbizo.

Upon arrival, Masendeke knocked at the door and Mhlanga opened. Masendeke, switched on the lights and began searching the house and saw Machaba who was hiding under the bed.

Masendeke, the court heard, went to his car, which was parked outside and returned armed with a sjambok.

The three then took turns to whip Machaba until he was unconscious. Sensing danger, the trio disappeared into the darkness.

Machaba was ferried to Kwekwe District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.