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• Vital organs targeted in frenzied attack

• Stupefied killer guards bloody corpse

Emily Mbewe Chronicle Reporter
A MAN from Bulawayo died after being stabbed five times in a frenzied attack allegedly by his friend following a heated argument over who had been to more cities in neighbouring South Africa.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident which happened on Tuesday behind Amavene Primary School in Nkulumane suburb.

Witnesses said Lwazi Mtetwa, 21, plunged an okapi knife into Thabo Thebe, 22, in an alcohol-induced rage in the heat of a seemingly innocuous row over who knew South Africa better.

They said Mtetwa thrust the blade into Thebe’s sternum, pulled it out and sank it into his friend’s neck before frenziedly stabbing him three more times.

Thebe died on the spot.

Mtetwa, the witnesses said, seemed to suddenly become sober after realising he had killed his friend.

“He stood over the bloody body looking lost until police came and arrested him,” said a witness.

A Thebe family spokesperson declined to speak to The Chronicle, saying they were in mourning.

However, relatives who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday said they were still in shock over his death.

“Thabo and his friend only came to the country last month because they usually reside in South Africa. Thabo’s siblings are also based there,” said a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We heard the two had been drinking Viceroy brandy when an argument ensued over who had been to more cities in South Africa”.

A man who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “They were drinking brandy with their other friend that I don’t know. They began arguing and Lwazi pulled out an okapi knife and stabbed Thabo several times.”

A vendor operating near Amavene Primary School said she knew the two as friends from childhood, long before they relocated to South Africa.

“Thabo and Lwazi were close friends. I was shocked to learn that Lwazi had killed his friend. I saw people gathering at the scene and went to see for myself. I was really shocked to see him lying down helplessly before he died on the spot,” she said.

Insp Simango said Mtetwa was assisting police with investigations.

“We received a report of a murder that occurred in Nkulumane where a male adult was arrested. He is being held in police custody and is helping with investigations,” she said.

“Members of the public should solve arguments peacefully rather than resorting to violence, we don’t encourage people to resort to fighting. They should talk things through or seek counselling from elders, the police or religious leaders”.

Thebe’s family said he would be buried tomorrow.