Esigodini man murdered, suspect on the run

Thandeka Matebesi

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a manhunt for an unknown person who is suspected to have murdered an Esigodini man and made off with the latter’s vehicle, a Honda Fit.

Matabeleland South Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Loveness Mangena who confirmed the incident said investigations of the suspected murder of Nhlanganiso Mlala of Esigodini are currently underway.

According to the police an unknown accused person hired Mlala on 15 March 2021 at around 22:00 hours to carry the suspect’s goods to a location in the Falcon College area.

“On 15 March 2021 at 22:00 hours Nhlanganiso Mlala who was driving his black Honda fit plate number AEL 5151 in the company of his wife Merjury Moyo,  was hired by the suspect to transport goods to the Falcon College area.” 
Mlala is said to have dropped off his wife to accommodate the client and his goods. He never returned home the next day, prompting his wife to make a missing person report to which the police responded by launching a search. His car was discovered at an accident scene in Bulawayo on 16 March 2021 where the suspect is reported to have fled the scene,” said Insp. Mangena.

Insp. Mangena added that the body of the deceased was found dumped four days later in the Falcon College area.

“On 20 March 2021 Mlala’s body was found about 100 meters from the Falcon college area with three deep cuts on the head and multiple cuts on the face, showing that he had been murdered by the person who had hired him.
The body was taken to Esigodini Hospital for a postmortem and investigations of a suspected murder are currently in place.  The suspect is still at large. The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to members of the public who might have seen the accused in the deceased’s car (AEL5151) to approach the police,” she said.