A Rusape family will rue the day their daughter got married as their father was assaulted to death by a group of machete-wielding gang sometimes referred to as MaShurugwi demanding that he gives them the money paid as the bride price, New Zimbabwe reports.
The sad incident was narrated by Manicaland province deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda who said MaShurugwi assaulted Boas Mamutse of Gweremwezhe village demanding money he received as lobola for one of his daughters and burial society money:
The gang (MaShurugwi) stormed the home at around 7pm on the day to find the now deceased Boas Mamutse of Gweremwezhe village relaxing in the kitchen with his wife Thandiwe Makuyana (54). The gang forcibly entered the kitchen wearing face masks and woollen hats, holding knives, machetes and wooden sticks.
They demanded the lobola money from Mamutse but were told there was no money. The gang started assaulting Mamutse and his wife with sticks. Two of the suspects tied the deceased’s two daughters, aged 16 and 19, who were cooking in another kitchen. They went on to tie the whole family with ropes.
They took turns to assault the now deceased several times on the body with sticks demanding lobola which was paid recently for one of his daughters. The suspects also demanded burial society money as the deceased was the treasurer of the group. Mamutse reportedly tried to fight one of the suspects but was struck with an axe on the head and he fell down.
The suspects dragged Mamutse out of the kitchen to his bedroom where they further assaulted him. The suspects took US$7 and an undisclosed amount in local currency and vanished from the scene leaving the family tied with cloths and rope.
One of daughters managed to untie herself and she went to the bedroom where they found their father bleeding profusely from a cut on the head and having difficulty in breathing. She screamed and drew their neighbour’s attention, Joseph Terere, 66, who rushed to the scene.
Mamutse was pronounced dead on arrival at Rusape general hospital and the gang of Mashurugwi that killed him is still at large, ZRP is appealing to members of the public who might know the gang that committed the crime to come forward.
Mashurugwi caused a reign of terror in gold-rich areas in Zimbabwe early this year and reportedly killed one police officer constable Wonder Hokoyo.
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