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Nqobile Tshili and Mpumelelo Nyoni
SIX people will appear before Bulawayo magistrates today charged with murder over the death of a Highlanders Football Club fan last Saturday following a league match with champions, Dynamos.
Thembelenkosini Hloli, 23, died from stab wounds inflicted with a screwdriver, his family said yesterday, citing a post mortem report.

Chamas Misiwo, Rogder Dye “Murehwa” Trechsen, Pretty Ndoro, Onisimo Maphosa, Nandi Nyoni and George Chapindura will appear in court today facing murder charges after police on Tuesday made an application for a warrant of further detention.

In six separate applications for further detention filed by Detective Inspector in Charge of Crime CID-Homicide, Sihlangu Siwela, police said investigations so far indicate that all the six suspects had a hand in Hloli’s death.

“I, Sihlangu Siwela, being a Detective Inspector in charge of Crime CID Homicide hereby declare that the six were arrested without a warrant and that from information available to me, there is reasonable ground of suspecting him to the effect that he has committed a crime of murder. Thus, I apply for a warrant for further detention,” said Siwela.

Police were called to Renkini Bus Terminus on Saturday evening following reports of a man bleeding on the pavement — minutes after Dynamos had beaten Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields in a highly-charged match.

The final whistle was greeted by clashes between rival fans who also fought pitched battles with the police.

Prosecutor Raymond Makaza on Tuesday said police sought to further detain the suspects ahead of today’s court appearance as they were yet to take them for indications and record warned and cautioned statements.

Magistrate Victor Mpofu granted the application for a warrant of further remand, allowing police to hold the six for a further 48 hours.

Hloli’s family yesterday said a post mortem conducted at the United Bulawayo Hospital revealed that their son died after he was stabbed with a screwdriver in the left abdomen, tearing his blood vessels.

“We have seen the post mortem report and it concludes that Themba was stabbed with a screwdriver. He was also severely assaulted all over his body,” said family spokesperson, Hlengiwe Hloli.

The family’s account differs with that offered by national police spokesman Superintendent Paul Nyathi, who stated that Hloli had died after “going through some spikes” on the perimetre wall of a building near Renkini.

Hloli, according to Superintendent Nyathi, was with four other men when they allegedly threw stones and damaged a car driven by a Dynamos supporter.

The Dynamos supporter, according to police, joined up with his friends and chased after Hloli and his mates.

“Two guys ran towards a wholesale firm near Renkini and were immediately arrested by security officers manning the premises, the other two made good their escape while Hloli tried to jump over the wall of the next building where his friends had just been arrested.

Unfortunately he went through some spikes and was badly injured,” he said, adding that by the time an ambulance arrived Hloli was already dead.

Hloli, a father of one and a first-year apprentice at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) studying carpentry, yesterday received a huge send off from Highlanders supporters and the Sizinda community as scores of people thronged his home to pay their last respects.

A funeral cortege drove slowly past Renkini and then Barbourfields Stadium yesterday as Hloli began his final journey to rural Lower Gweru ahead of his burial today.

The Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo contributed $500 towards his burial, while Highlanders FC donated $200. Kings and Queens Funeral Services offered a free hearse to transport the body to his rural home.