A 33-year-old man from Nkayi who was caught red-handed stealing from a farmhouse in Bubi was beaten to death by community members, Saturday.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident to CITE.
The man, Lindani Moyo, of Batiki Village, Nkayi district, was in the company of other assailants when they pounced on a farmhouse that was occupied by two ladies.
The ladies managed to escape through the back door and found help from members of the neighbourhood who attacked Moyo and his gang.
The other assailants ran away, leaving Moyo behind and became a victim of mob justice.
Insp Ncube said the mob was made up of about fourteen people whose ages ranged between 25 and 50.
“Police have received a case of murder where the accused persons are about 14 unknown male adults who are of different age groups ranging from 25 to 50 years of age. The deceased is Lindani Moyo, a male adult aged 33 years of Batiki village, Nkayi District,” Insp Ncube said.
“On 25 march 2023 at around 2330 hours, the now deceased teamed up with his friends and broke in at a farmhouse in Bubi. They used an axe to break open the back door of the farmhouse door and entered the premises where they woke up two females who were asleep inside.”
Insp Ncube said the accused persons went on to break the front door of the house.
“While the now deceased and his gang were breaking the doors, the two females escaped using the back door but was tripped by long grass and fell down. The accused person searched her and took away cash amounting to US$300. She managed to run away again and hid in the bush where she met a group of people who asked her why she was running away and she told them that there were people who had invaded their farmhouse,” he said.
“The group of people called other people in the neighbourhood, teamed up and proceeded to the farmhouse where they attacked the intruders. Some of the intruders escaped but the now deceased remained behind and was attacked with unknown sharp objects all over his body. A police report was then made and the lifeless body of the deceased was found lying on the veranda of the farmhouse in a pool of blood.”
Ncube urged the community to use target hardening techniques in their homes by increasing door and window burglar bars security.
“We appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused persons to report at any nearest police station. Community is warned against the use of excessive force or taking the law into their own hands,” he said.
