The incident, which has created animosity between the local residents and Zimbabweans and also sent shock waves through the village, took place last Wednesday around 17:00.
It is alleged the two were seen drinking together at a local tavern that same afternoon.
There are, however, two conflicting versions of the incident.
One is that the deceased, Timothy Chilebo (25), a Zimbabwean who made a living from piece jobs, who had been drinking with his landlord, went to the landlord’s bedroom and demanded that the landlord switch on the lights to his outside room. It is alleged that the landlord got agitated and accused the deceased of disrespect because he had entered his room without permission.
It is further alleged that the deceased started a fight and stabbed the landlord with a broken bottle. It was at that stage that the landlord is said to have run to the kitchen where he fetched a knife, which he used to stab Chilebo. He died in the street outside the house.
The other version is that the fight started over an outstanding amount of R50 rent that the tenant allegedly owed the landlord. The landlord apparently went to the tenant’s room and demanded the money and dragged the tenant to his room, where an argument ensued.
The community is still in shock and in fear as the two were described as the best of friends.
The deceased’s wife, Ms Constance Ngagi (27), said that she could not understand why it had happened. “My husband went to Siawoadza where he was digging a toilet pit and came back at about 13:00. He did not stay at home for long and went to the tavern where he was drinking with friends. He came back a happy man after having some drinks with friends. I am not aware of any argument.”
She said that she had two children and do not know how to cope now.
Both the leadership of the Zimbabwean community and the locals at Tshisahulu have called for calmness after the incident. Mr Peter Muneri (34), a Zimbabwean community leader, said the incident was regrettable. “Firstly, the landlord and his tenant of nearly two years are friends who always went out to drink together. We are still trying to find out what actually happened. So far, we know nothing definite about the incident and we are faced with a big challenge of taking him back home for burial. We will have sit down with the leadership at Tshisahulu for a workable solution,” he added.
Local civic chairperson Thomas Rambuwani said that the incident affected everyone and “we have to sit down with our Zimbabwean brothers and see how we can overcome this tragedy,” he said.
Community policing forum chairperson Mr Samuel Masindi said they did not have the facts about the incident but said they were going to hold a meeting and find out what had happened and seek a way forward.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Constable Avhafarei Tshiovhe confirmed the incident and that they had opened a murder charge. “We have arrested Donald Makhada (57) of Tshisahulu at the scene of the incident and he appeared in court last Friday. He is in custody and his case has been postponed to 4 February 2014 for further investigations,” said Tshiovhe.
Source: zoutnet
