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| Mr Edward Musekiwa(left) brother to the deceased, Tinotenda Musekiwa in clutches (son to the deceased) who sustained a fractured leg during the attack and the now deceased’s widow, Sophia |
A birthday party in Gweru turned from merrymaking into
tragedy when four gatecrashers fatally assaulted the happy birthday man,
traumatising his widow into failing to breastfeed her newborn who then died
five days later.
Mrs Sophia Musekiwa of Gweru’s Mkoba 13 just wanted a good
celebration for husband Charles on his 43rd birthday on August 16, so she
organised a small party.
“We had a gathering at home to celebrate my husband’s
birthday. Four men showed up at our house uninvited. I am not sure if they were
acquainted to my husband, but he allowed them to stay on anyhow,” she said,
clearly struggling to hold back tears.
But when it was time to eat “my husband politely told the
men that there wasn’t enough to eat as we had not planned for their presence,”
she said before breaking down.
The four left, but soon came back armed with stones and
iron bars and still got no food. They flew into a rage and began attacking
everyone indiscriminately, including her husband.
Mr Musekiwa was struck with a stone on the upper abdomen
and sustained internal injuries after which he and other injured guests were
rushed to hospital.
His 19-year-old son, Tinotenda, sustained a broken leg in
the savage attack.
Mr Musekiwa succumbed to his injuries at Gweru Provincial
Hospital. Mrs Musekiwa went into deep depression and was unable to
breastfeed her newly-born baby for five days, resulting in his death.
Brother to the deceased, Mr Edward Musekiwa said: “We were
in a celebratory mood that is why we allowed the men to stay on. They demanded
food but we told them we had not made provision for extra food. They also
demanded beer but we told them we did not have any because of our Christian
beliefs.
“I am now the father figure but I can’t fend for the family because I am unemployed. My
brother who was a builder, was the one looking after me. It’s a desperate
situation,” he said.
Mr Charles Musekiwa and the baby were buried side by side
in Zhombe.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Joel
Goko said one suspect had been arrested while his three accomplices were still
at large.
“One suspect, Brightworth Kaputo (28) is now in police
custody facing a murder charge. Police are now hunting for his three
accomplices, Brighton Mlauzi (20), Marshal Muza (19) and Joseph Zulu (28).”
Insp Goko appealed for information leading to the arrest of
the other suspects. Herald
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