NYANGA – A 23-year-old Mozambican national has been murdered at a farm in Nyanga following a dispute with a co-worker over a cigarette lighter.
Joao Antonio Pungurai was found dead with severe injuries in a shared kitchen hut at Mr Alec Nyamugafata’s farm in Nyapundo Village, under Chief Saunyama, where he was employed as a general hand.
The incident occurred on April 17 around 9pm, according to Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka. “Police are investigating circumstances around the murder of Joao Antonio Pungurai in Nyapundo Village on April 17,” he said.
The prime suspect in the murder is Revai Guri (38), a co-worker of the deceased, who is now at large. Police are appealing for information that could lead to Guri’s arrest.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said a dispute arose between Pungurai and Guri on April 11 over a cigarette lighter that the deceased had borrowed.
“Guri claims that Pungurai damaged the lighter, but the issue was reportedly resolved after Ms Martha Nyamaropa – Mr Nyamugafata’s wife – intervened and temporarily settled the matter,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
However, the simmering tension appears to have escalated on the fateful evening. It is alleged that on April 17, Ms Nyamaropa had supper with Pungurai and Guri in the kitchen hut around 7pm. She later retired to bed in her bedroom, which is 50 metres away.
Around 9pm, her son, Thulani Nyamugafata returned home from watching football at Nyapundo Business Centre, and found Pungurai lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen. He was reportedly bleeding from the forehead.
Thulani alerted his mother, who in turn notified her husband, who was away. Mr Nyamugafata, along with his wife and son, searched the hut and discovered that Guri had fled. All his personal belongings were also missing, suggesting a deliberate attempt to evade capture.
The incident was reported to ZRP Nyamaropa-Bende Base, and upon investigation, police found a blood-stained wooden axe handle near the deceased. Pungurai had injuries on the forehead, consistent with an attack using the recovered weapon.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information leading to Guri’s arrest to come forward.
Follow @MyZimbabweNews
