In a tragic turn of events, one individual lost their life and another was left severely injured following a violent outbreak during a soccer match in the Silobela area of Midlands last week.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, Provincial Liaison Officer, confirmed the grim incident, which involved a group of eight men wielding axes and machetes. The attack, which took place on August 4, 2024, around 8 PM, resulted in charges of murder and attempted murder.
The violence erupted at Gobo Business Center, where villagers had gathered for a soccer tournament. Initially, the event proceeded without incident, but by 3 PM, tensions had escalated, leading to a scuffle and subsequent pitch invasion by fervent supporters.
The eight suspects, identified as residents of the Donsa area, were reportedly overwhelmed by villagers from Gobo. In retaliation, the suspects armed themselves and later descended upon Matsikidze Village, indiscriminately harassing the residents.
Inspector Mahoko provided a detailed account of the assault: “The suspects, displeased with the earlier altercation, returned armed with axes and machetes. At around 8 PM, they stormed Matsikidze Village, where they encountered Samson Paradza (59) and Samuel Shoko (49). The assailants brutally attacked both men, inflicting severe injuries.”
The villagers, alerted by the victims’ cries for help, managed to apprehend one of the attackers, Mbekezela Lunga, who was subsequently handed over to the police. Despite the villagers’ efforts, Paradza succumbed to his injuries upon arrival at Silobela District Hospital, while Shoko remains in serious condition.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police have since arrested four of the suspects: Mkhululi Ndlovu (24), Lungile Nyoni (25), Gazimulo Ndlondlo (18), and Mthabisi Moyo (24), all hailing from Village Sitemba under Chief Malisa in Silobela. However, three suspects remain at large: Thobile Nyoni (23), Butholezwe Ncube (25), and Thikiza Nyoni (26), also from the Donsa and Sitemba areas.
The police are appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the capture of the remaining suspects, urging anyone with details to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation