BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Police in Binga are seeking information leading to the arrest of Never Macheke, Bhudhiza Sphondivi, and their accomplices, Sainjiba and Samakhabo, in connection with a stock theft case that occurred on July 18, at Chitete Village.

Police on X said the three are from Lusulu, Binga.

They allegedly stole the six cattle and later sold them to Golden Siamajaya.

“The suspects sold the stolen cattle to Golden Siamajaya who was caught slaughtering one of the cattle at Simuachemba Village, Lusulu, Binga on 19/08/24.”

In a separate incident, a daring escape attempt by a three suspects in a stock theft case was foiled by a brave neighbourhood watch committee member in Nkulumane.

Bhekilizwe Nyathi of Nkayi, but residing in Nkulumane 12, was apprehended by residents after a high-speed chase.

According to Inspector Abednico Ncube, Bulawayo police spokesperson, on August 26 at 11am, the informant, Shepherd Ncube, was at work when he noticed a blue Mazda pick-up van with a white canopy parked outside the yard at his workplace.

Nyathi said he went closer to see why the car was parked so suspiciously.

While talking to the driver, he noticed that the car’s loading box was full of cattle carcasses, and the suspects offered Shepherd a bribe to buy his silence, but he refused, leading to the driver striking him with the back of an axe before attempting to escape.

Ncube demanded to see documents which authorised transportation of meat as the other two accused in the car persuaded Ncube to accept a bribe so as not to raise alarm, but he refused.

The brave neighbourhood watch committee member jumped onto the loading box of the van while the suspects drove away, shouting for assistance.

One suspect was eventually apprehended and the stolen cattle recovered, while the other two are still being sought.

The stolen beasts belonged to Zenzo Luphahla of Hope Fountain.

BY STAFF REPORTER

The body of an 18-year-old boy who drowned in a dam at a Chinese-run Python Mine in Binga was retrieved on Thursday afternoon, four days after he went missing.

The body was in a decomposing state, making it difficult to determine the cause of death.

“The police, together with villagers, finally managed to retrieve his body around 3 to 4 pm. He was trapped in the mud at Python mine dam and was already in a decomposing state,” said Kamativi ward 11 councillor Joshua Tshuma.

Villagers and police officers from Binga worked together to retrieve the body, which was a challenging task due to the muddy waters.

“There are so many theories surrounding his death, others say he was running away from an elephant encounter during the herding of the cattle, but we do not know what might have happened,” Tshuma added.

In a separate incident, a toddler from Tinde village in Binga died on Tuesday after being crushed by a scotchcart. The child was buried yesterday.

“He was in the company of his other family members who are also young. They had been sent to collect mealie-meal, and we suspect that the cart might have been speeding and hit a wooded stomp that caused the accident, but he was fatally injured on his head and died instantly,” Tshuma said.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A sense of despair has gripped the community of Kamativi in Binga as a 20-year-old boy remains missing after drowning in a local Chinese mine dam three days ago.

The incident has left villagers and authorities searching for answers.

According to Joshua Tshuma, councilor for Kamativi ward 11, the boy from Chilonga, Malaliya village, disappeared while in the company of a friend.

“It happened three days ago, but I was out in Hwange,” Tshuma said in an interview.

“I haven’t gone there, but I had a discussion with the police, and they told me that they have been searching since Tuesday, together with the villagers, and they still can’t locate his body.”

The dam, dug by Chinese miners for copper extraction, is believed to be the site where the boy met his fate.

“We suspect that he might have tripped and is stuck in the mud ground,” Tshuma added.

The police are still waiting for the sub-aqua department from Bulawayo to arrive and assist in the search.

“I will give an update as soon as they arrive,” Tshuma promised.

In a separate incident, a toddler was killed by a scotcart on Tuesday in Binga, leaving the community reeling from the double tragedy.

As the search for the missing boy continues, the community remains in a state of shock and grief, seeking answers and closure.