Masimba Junior Mutodza
A man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to two life sentences after he killed his in-laws.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Tafirei Ndlovu, on April 14, 2022, murdered his father-in-law, Xolani Mpofu, and mother-in-law, Sibalungele Ncube.
He appeared before the Bulawayo High Court, where he was found guilty of two counts of cold-blooded murder committed in Plumtree.
The court heard that the offences were committed under aggravating circumstances, noting that the murders were premeditated and involved gratuitous violence.
Ndlovu, acting in concert with an accomplice, Kudzani Mathukuthu (who remains at large), murdered his in-laws.
The victims were savagely assaulted with axes before being dragged into a kitchen hut, which was then set alight.
The harrowing incident unfolded around 2 am and was witnessed by Nomusa Nyoni, Ndlovu’s wife and the daughter of the deceased.
Ndlovu’s wife had left their marital home in Botswana in April 2022 after 13 years of marriage due to marital problems, returning to her parents’ home.
On April 13, 2022, Ndlovu contacted his mother-in-law, claiming he wanted to reconcile with his wife and in-laws.
However, he arrived in the dead of night and committed the heinous murders.
He then kidnapped his wife, forcing her to cross back illegally into Botswana.
Fortunately, she managed to alert border police on patrol and informed them of her kidnapping and her parents’ murders.
Ndlovu and his accomplice attempted to flee, but he was apprehended, though his co-accused managed to escape.
