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Nomvelo Siziba, Chronicle Reporter
A 26-year-old mentally ill man from Tsholotsho has been arrested after he allegedly fatally stabbed his father four times with a knife.

Welcome Ndlovu is said to have stabbed his father Mr Jefius Ndlovu (75) in the stomach and in the throat following an argument.

The Chronicle was told that the old man had sent his son to Vhangazini village to contact some relatives but Ndlovu was not happy about it and they started quarrelling.

Ndlovu’s father threw a log at him and he took a kitchen knife and stabbed the old man who was paraplegic.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Makonese confirmed the incident. “I can confirm that the police are investigating a murder case that happened in Tsholotsho at Xhanixhani village. On Thursday at around 1PM the now deceased who was paralysed on the legs was sitting near a kitchen hut at their homestead when the accused person who is said to be mentally ill came from an unknown place. He took a kitchen knife which was on a maize drying stand and stabbed his father three times in the stomach and once in the throat,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said the old man screamed for help and a neighbour Miss Sipho Mathe rushed to the scene and found him lying in a pool of blood.

Ndlovu had already fled from the scene and his father was dead.

Chief Insp Makonese said Miss Mathe informed other villagers who teamed up and tracked the accused’s person.

They managed to apprehend Ndlovu at Dhlamini Business Centre in Tsholotsho. When he was searched, villagers found a blood-stained knife in his pocket.

Ndlovu confessed that he had attacked the old man and said that he was ordered by a mysterious voice to kill his father.

He was taken to Tsholotsho police station.

Chief Insp Makonese urged families to seek medical help for the mentally ill.

“We urge families to take mentally ill people to hospital to avoid tragedies and loss of life in the name of mental illness,” said Chief Insp Makonese.-@nomvelosiziba.