A man from Lupane in Matabeleland North has been arrested by the police for allegedly murdering his parents and then fleeing to Botswana.
Clever Ngwenya, 35 years old, is accused of stabbing his elderly parents, Mildress Ngwenya (71) and Simon Shoemaker Ngwenya (73), two weeks ago in Gwalubha village under Chief Mabhikwa’s jurisdiction.
The incident was so horrifying that the suspect’s siblings sought refuge at a police station for three nights due to fear of being attacked.
The motive behind Ngwenya’s merciless act remains unclear. However, he had informed one of his brothers that he needed to discuss something with their parents. Tragically, he ended up using a kitchen knife to fatally stab his mother before proceeding to attack his father. Last Wednesday, the suspect’s parents were laid to rest.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Ngwenya’s arrest, revealing that he had been apprehended on September 25 in Botswana after crossing the border. Cooperation between the Zimbabwe Republic Police and their Botswana counterparts, facilitated through their membership in Interpol and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Coordination (SARPCCO), played a crucial role in the successful operation.
Asst Comm Nyathi expressed concern over the rising incidence of violent crimes, particularly within families. He cited a previous case in Mangwe where another individual had killed their parents, emphasizing the need for peaceful conflict resolution among family members.
The arrest of Ngwenya was met with relief by Acting Chief Mabhikwa, who acknowledged the fear prevailing in the Gwalubha village following the gruesome incident. He called for the police to take further action to alleviate the community’s concerns, suggesting that parading the suspect could help restore faith in the justice system.
Acting Chief Mabhikwa urged the family to investigate the underlying causes that may have led Clever to commit such a heinous crime. He also highlighted the general increase in violent crimes within the community, urging residents to refrain from carrying weapons and emphasizing the need to address the high crime rate.
