Grisly ritual murder in Mmathethe

Police in Lobatse are investigating a gruesome suspected ritual murder that happened in Mmathete, on the outskirts of the town, on January 27, 2016.

A case of murder has been opened and all four suspects are in police custody. Ongoing investigations have revealed that the cold blooded murder of the Zimbabwean national believed to be in his early 20s, took place at the farm of a prominent man in the village.

According to an impeccable source close to the case, police officers and members of the SSG have been roped in to search for the body of the deceased. This follows an anonymous tip off that the body could be somewhere in the village and surrounding areas.

A herd boy, who is helping police with investigations as an eyewitness and accomplice in the murder, has confessed to the incident. He confessed that his boss, the son of a prominent man in the village, killed the Zimbabwean herd boy and together with two accomplices, they cut out the man’s private parts.

He said he was present when they chased and captured the deceased man, who panicked and tried to flee. He initially managed to remove himself from the rope they had used to tie him up with, but they chased after him again and beat him up until he lost consciousness.

The herd boy said that he overheard the men discussing that it was important to cut up the victim when the body was still warm, as they chopped out the man’s private organs and put them in a bucket.

The bloodied corpse was then wrapped in a blanket together with a few large stones so that the body would not float in the murky waters of the borehole they threw it in.

The herd boy claims that he became engulfed in fear at the sight of splattered blood and the horrific moans of the dying man, and fled the scene. A missing person’s case was reported to police when the Zimbabwean man was not seen by those he lived with.

Police engaged villagers on a search before the man came forth and confessed to being a witness to the murder.

The other accused have however maintained innocence and told police a corroborating story of how the eyewitness herd boy, who is a Motswana, had a fight with the deceased Zimbabwean herd boy and tied him up to a tree.

They allege they were away at the time of the incident and only discovered this on their return, but they proceeded to their cattle post to solve a problem with their tractor which had broken down. They allege that on their return, they found the Zimbabwean man missing.

An impeccable source has alluded that trouble is brewing over the matter as an influential and “important” family is implicated. Police confirmed the case but declined to reveal any further information pending investigations into the matter.

The four accused are expected to appear before the Lobatse magistrate court later this month.