BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Police in Matabeleland North are searching for a gold dealer in connection with the gruesome murder of two Binga man whose bodies were found in a pit on April 26.
It is believed that Rodwell Ndiripo and Albert Mudenda were killed at the Junamina Primary School grounds before their bodies were dumped.
Clement Mumpande, a local gold dealer, is now being sought in connection with the killings.
“On the fateful day (April 26), at around 9AM, William Chisemburo who is the headmaster at Siachilaba Secondary School was phoned by Clement Mumpande who is also known as a gold dealer asking for a motor vehicle to hire,” Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said.
“Chisemburo was away and he instructed Ndiripo to drive the suspect to the Junamina area where he had indicated that he wanted to sell a vehicle to Mudenda and the trio used the headmaster’s vehicle, a purple Honda fit.
“The suspect, Mudenda, wanted to sell a vehicle which he allegedly said was in Junamina and the two deceased left with him and did not report back home.”
Banda said the murdered men’s family members tried to contact, them but their phones were not reachable.
“On 27 April 2022 around 9AM, Cecilia Mugwara, Ndiripo’s wife in the company of her two brothers Lucky Mugwara and Maxwell Mugwara went to search for Ndiripo in Junamina since he had indicated to his wife that he was heading there and when they arrived at the school grounds they noticed struggle marks and blood stains on the ground, ” he said.
“They followed the path which led them to a pit near the school ground and they discovered two dead bodies in the pit and they managed to identify the two bodies as those of Ndiripo and Mudenda.
“One suspect in this case known as Clement Mudenda is at large and police are appealing to members of the public for any information which can lead to the arrest of the accused(s) person.”