Two Zimbabwean men commit double murder…Dumps victim bodies in village well…Mphoeng near Plumtree

THE High Court sitting in Bulawayo has sentenced two men to 40 years’ imprisonment each for the gruesome killing of two Mphoeng villagers in October 2023.

Accused persons, Modiri Dube (27) and Methuli Ncube (28), both of Mphoeng, appeared in court for two brutal murders committed on the night of October 31, two years ago.

Dube and Ncube were convicted on both counts and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for each count, making them 40 years each in total.

Their accomplice Lucky Mpofu is still at large.

Circumstances were that the pair, along with their partner-in-crime, were drinking beer with Milton Moyo (25) and Bhekinkosi Ncube (24) at Manyondo Bar in Ingwizi before luring them to Mpofu’s homestead.

Whilst at the homestead, one or both accused persons struck Moyo on the chest with an unknown object, leading to his instant death. Assailants then connived to dump the now deceased’s body into the village well.

Court heard that, fearing that Bhekinkosi would report the murder, the trio fatally attacked him with a brick and a stitching needle, before disposing of his body in the same well.

The grim discovery of the two corpses was made days later, following a strong stench of rotting human flesh emanating from the well, while other villagers complained of an unusual taste of the water.

Police were notified and, on November 4, 2023, attended the scene and retrieved the decomposing bodies from the well.

Subsequent investigations by police led to the arrest of Dube and Ncube.