Mangwe couple burnt beyond recognition

An elderly couple from Emzaza, Empandeni area in Mangwe District was burnt beyond recognition Tuesday night in an alleged robbery attempt, CITE has learnt.

The husband has been identified as Nicholas Nleya 83 , while the wife is Margaret Nleya 78, and were both retired teachers.

The motive behind their murder still remains unclear.

Sources who spoke to CITE revealed that robbers pounced on their home yesterday night around 10 pm.

“Robbers pounced on their home and killed the two old people in the process, cutting them into pieces. They then locked and burnt them inside a house,” said the source.

They said villagers were shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of the Nleyas who assisted the less-privileged children in and around Empandeni.

“The Nleyas played an important role in the development of the area in assisting less privileged children in and around Empandeni. The village will never be the same again without these two,” said a source.

Contacted for a comment, one of their children, Busi Tshuma, said the police were still on the ground doing their investigations.

“We are not really sure; the police are also here still trying to do investigations,” said Tshuma.

Mangwe Member of Parliament, Hlalani Mguni, said she was also still gathering more information on what transpired

“I am not aware at the moment of what really transpired,” said Mguni.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele, said they were still doing their investigations.

National police spokesperson commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“We are conducting investigation in connection with an unfortunate murder where a couple one male adult aged 83 and female aged 76 was attacked at their homestead by suspects who are yet to be picked by police,” he said.

“It is alleged that these suspects were demanding money and they had information that the couple had received money from their relatives or children abroad.”

He said the police were appealing for information which would assist them locate the suspects.

Nyathi said an unused petrol bomb was recovered at the veranda of the couple’s house.

“In this case we want to conduct investigations to find out really what happened because this is a unique case because you find that after attacking the couple , the suspects went on to set  the room which they were sleeping on fire, so we are conducting investigations to clearly found out what happened and at the same time warning people who are moving around targeting the elderly that the law will certainly take its course,” he added.