Brothers kill sibling over late father’s cattle

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THREE Nyajena brothers in Masvingo severely assaulted their sibling before one of them allegedly fatally stabbed him with a knife in a dispute over their late father’s cattle.

THREE Nyajena brothers in Masvingo severely assaulted their sibling before one of them allegedly fatally stabbed him with a knife in a dispute over their late father’s cattle.

TATENDA CHITAGU OWN CORRESPONDENT

It is the State’s case that Farai Pambulani, Severino Pambulani and Richard Manjakate assaulted Tranos Manjakate before Farai allegedly stabbed him.

Farai appeared before High Court judge Justice Susan Mavhangira facing a charge of murder while Severino and Richard are still at large.

Prosecutor Elison Chabarika told the court that on April 12 2005 in Kupani village, Chief Nyajena, the accused approached the deceased who was herding the cattle in question and demanded that they be given the beasts.

The deceased refused and said they were going to share the cattle at the memorial service of their late father Hlomani Manjova Manjakate who had died in 2004 and left the cattle in his custody.

The three are alleged to have started assaulting the deceased all over the body. Farai allegedly pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Tranos once on the left side of the chest.

The three then drove the cattle to their homes leaving Tranos lying in a pool of blood.

He died later on the same day and the matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.

In his defence, Farai, who is being represented by Philip Shumba of Mtendi and Shumba, said he was only roped in to collect the cattle and there was an altercation between Richard and the deceased.

He argues that he never took part in the fight and also stated that the deceased tried to run away but fell on a stump and started bleeding while they took the cattle.

The trial is set to continue as the State is yet to get evidence from Tichaona Pambulani, younger brother to the accused, who cannot be located as he is said to be working in South Africa.