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Thandeka [email protected]

TWO men from Pumula South suburb have been arrested for fatally assaulting a peacemaker who was trying to deter them from being violent during a beer binge.

The accused persons were drinking beer at a local sports bar, Pumula South and had a misunderstanding with a man only known as Casins before turning their wrath on the now-deceased Notho Sibanda (38).

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that Ndumiso Sibanda (23) and Mphumuzi Dube were arrested on Tuesday.

“The now deceased approached the accused persons trying to calm them down, but instead the accused persons turned against him and assaulted the now deceased with fists and open hands several times all over the body. The accused persons dragged him outside the bar where they stabbed him with an unknown object once on the left thigh, once on his back near the left shoulder and went away,” said Insp Ncube.

“A police report was then made and Sibanda was ferried by an ambulance where he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. On Tuesday at around 10 PM, police received a tip-off to the effect that one of the accused persons Sibanda was staying with his girlfriend at Emthunzini, Bulawayo at her place of residence. Police conducted a raid at the said address and the accused person was not located.”

Insp Ncube said Sibanda was later arrested when he boarded a commuter omnibus to the CBD and was taken to his place of residence where his clothes which he wore on the day he committed the offence and a black Columbian knife were recovered.

“Upon interview, the accused person revealed that when he committed the offence, he was with Nkanyiso Ndlovu alias Sibho, a male adult aged 29 years of Pumula South, Bulawayo and Mphumuzi Dube. Police made a follow-up and arrested Mphumuzi Dube at his place of residence,” he said.

“Police would like to urge members of the public not to take the law into their own hands but try to find amicable ways to solve their problems. Members are warned to desist from carrying dangerous weapons in public places.  We also appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Nkanyiso Ndlovu alias Sibho to report at any nearest police station.”