Three members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) who shot
dead two civilians in Mwenezi West following a dispute which occurred on Boxing
Day at Shayamafudzi Township have been arrested for murder.
Crispen Maphosa (28), Tapiwanashe Basopo (35) and Collen
Ncube (28), who are attached with the HQ 1 Brigade in Bulawayo, had earlier on
been reported for allegedly launching a reign of terror on innocent civilians
in Mwenezi.
The trio were deployed at Mujingwe Conservancy which is
said to be now owned by some high level military brass.
The three accused soldiers made their initial appearance in
court on Monday, December 30, 2019 before Mwenezi Magistrate Honest Musiiwa who,
upon advising them to apply for bail at the High Court, remanded them in
custody.
It is alleged that on December 26, 2019, the three accused
soldiers who were on assignment at Mujingwe Conservancy in Mwenezi West were
approached by one Olman Nyunyani, who reported to them that his younger brother
had been assaulted by Hosia and Sifelani Matarise.
Armed with their loaded AK 47 rifles, the three soldiers
together with Nyunyani proceeded to Shayamavhudzi Township looking for the
Matarises. Upon reaching the township, the three soldiers found the Matarise
brothers and a dispute ensued.
During the melee, the three soldiers shot Hosia on the head
and Sifelani on the chest. The two victims are said to have died on the spot as
a result of the gun wounds.
Police detectives and the Police Support Unit section later
attended the scene leading to the arrest of the three accused soldiers who were
apprehended two days after committing the offence.
Three spent cartridges and four live rounds of AK 47
ammunition were recovered at the crime scene. It is alleged that after
committing the offence, the three soldiers gave death threats to some
eyewitnesses.
Willard Chasi appeared for the State. TellZim News
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