Police in Bulawayo have arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the gruesome murder of Farai Mazhindu in Old Luveve suburb last week.
Mazhindu, who was reportedly employed as a newspaper vendor and was looking after a house in the suburb, was found dead on April 7, with his private parts ripped off and used condoms stashed in the pockets of his blood-stained jacket.
Confirming the arrest, Bulawayo Police Spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube revealed that the accused is a relative of the owner of the house which Mazhindu was looking after.
The owner of the house identified as Mr Mathema is based in the United Kingdom.
“Police have arrested Jongumuzi Lobathi aged 37 years in connection with a murder which occurred in Luveve on the 7th of April 2021,” said Inspector Ncube.
He told CITE the accused had a long-standing tiff with Mazhindu and did not want him to look after the house.
“Lobathi is said to be a relative of the owner of the house where the now-deceased worked. They did not want him to be there. There was bad blood between Lobathi and his relatives but the caretaker was good to him and he accommodated him even though he was not allowed to be in the house.”
Inspector Ncube said the police received a tip-off which led to Lobathi’s arrest who is set to appear in court soon.
“The deceased and accused spent a day together drinking alcohol and, on their way home, it is alleged they had a misunderstanding leading to a fistfight and this led to the death of the deceased Farai Mazhindu,” he said.
He added that they are still investigating how the used condoms ended up in Mazhindu’s jacket and they might have been planted.
