Clashes between villagers, neighbourhood committee leave one dead

By Mashudu Netsianda



A FIERCE battle has erupted between Members of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee (NWC) and villagers in Gwanda’s Shanyaugwe area, resulting in the death of one person while another is fighting for life in hospital.
The person who was killed is a member of the NWC.
The attacks on NWC members, which occurred last Monday, were in retaliation by angry villagers over the arrest of their colleagues who have been implicated in stocktheft cases.
The matter was only reported to the police at the weekend.
Part of Shanyaugwe area falls under Beitbridge District policing area.
The officer commanding police in Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero, yesterday said a group of 70 villagers, including women armed with spears and knobkerries, attacked 41 NWC members who had smashed a stocktheft ring in the area, resulting in the death of one of the NWC members.
Another NWC member is now battling for life at Gwanda Provincial Hospital after sustaining severe head injuries during the attack.
“On the fateful day, 41 Neighbourhood Watch Committee members went to Shanyaugwe Police Station seeking assistance from the police after having received information that there were some stolen goats hidden at several local homesteads.
“They were then given two police officers to escort them to the scene, leading to the recovery of several stolen goats and arrest of four suspects,” he said.
The suspects, John Dube, Lawrence Ndlovu, Kudzai Ndlovu and Dovhani Ndou, were arrested during the anti-stock theft operation.
Chief Supt Mukombero said the villagers led by Reason Nkomo, an alleged notorious cattle rustler in the area, were incensed by the arrest of their colleagues resulting in them mobilising each other before they launched a hunt for the anti-stocktheft team.
The suspects who were armed with spears and knobkerries found the NWC members camped in the bush and they descended on them.
“The villagers found the NWC members cooking a meal at their camp and they then attacked them,” he said.
The NWC members fled in different directions with villagers in hot pursuit.
Moses Siziba (65), an NWC member, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Zezani Clinic before he was later transferred to Beitbridge District Hospital where he died on Sunday.
The other victim, whose name was not given, was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital.
Chief Supt Mukombero said no arrests have been made and a manhunt for the suspects has since been launched.
“We have deployed our officers to the area and the entire village is now deserted as the culprits have fled. We have launched a hunt for the suspects and as police we are also appealing to members of the public to assist us with information that might lead to their arrest,” he said.
Shanyaugwe is a known area for stocktheft activities in Matabeleland South Province.
Recently, police in the province recovered 29 cattle worth US$6 000 during an anti-stocktheft exercise code-named Operation Inkomo Wazithathangaphi.
The stolen cattle were recovered in Shanyaugwe, Ngoma, Selonga, John Dip and Guyu where villagers had expressed an outcry over rampant cattle rustling activities in their areas