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Whinsley Masara and Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporters
A man from Umguza in Matabeleland North allegedly connived with his wife to kill their handicapped three- year-old-son and later secretly buried him in a shallow grave.

Jeremiah Sibanda, 32, and his wife who is in her early 20s, were arrested on Saturday after police received a tip-off from members of the community.

The name of the wife could not be established yesterday. Police sources said Sibanda hit the infant with an unidentified object on the forehead and he died instantly.

Bulawayo Police spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, confirmed the matter.

He said investigations are underway.

“I can confirm having received information regarding a man who allegedly killed and buried his son in a shallow grave at their backyard. The body was exhumed on Sunday. We’re still carrying out investigations,” said Insp Moyo.

A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited Umguza and spoke to Sibanda’s neighbours who narrated how they discovered the incident.

Pasca Nyoni, a Neighbourhood Watch committee member, said villagers became suspicious after seeing the couple without their child for a number of days.

“It was strange seeing the couple conducting their daily duties without their disabled child. On Friday, we saw Sibanda escorting his wife to the bus stop without the child and this prompted us to make our own investigations,” he said.

Nyoni said villagers confronted Sibanda who then confessed to having killed his son and buried him in his backyard.

“Sibanda told us he hit the child on the forehead with an object resulting in the boy dying on the spot. He then buried the boy in his backyard. He further said he committed the crime while the wife was doing laundry nearby. I then initiated his arrest.

“In their bid to conceal the murder, Sibanda allegedly told his wife to go back to her rural home in Binga and return after three years. It’s said that upon the wife’s arrival in Binga, she was questioned on the whereabouts of the child which led to her arrest,” he said.

Nomathemba Ndlovu, a neighbour, said Sibanda and his wife came to Umguza early this year and isolated themselves from other people.

“The husband behaved like he was mentally challenged, looked violent and unapproachable. He was also a heavy drinker who didn’t associate with anyone other than his wife.

“We’re therefore not really shocked that they did such a thing,” she said.