Zimbabwean man slapped with two life sentences for brutal double murder of in-laws
BULAWAYO – The Bulawayo High Court has handed down two life sentences to Tafirei Ndlovu after finding him guilty on two counts of premeditated and aggravated murder in the cold-blooded killings of his in-laws, Xolani Mpofu and Sibalungele Ncube, in Plumtree on April 14, 2022.
The court determined that Ndlovu, acting in concert with an accomplice identified as Kudzani Mathukuthu (who remains at large), committed the heinous murders with gratuitous violence.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the victims were savagely assaulted with axes before being dragged into a kitchen hut, which was then set alight.
The harrowing incident occurred around 02:00 hours and was witnessed by Nomusa Nyoni, Ndlovu’s wife and the daughter of the deceased.
The court heard that Ndlovu’s wife had left their marital home in Botswana in April 2022 after 13 years of marriage due to escalating marital problems, returning to her parents’ residence.
On April 13, 2022, Ndlovu reportedly contacted his mother-in-law, claiming a desire to reconcile with his wife and her family.
He, however, arrived in the dead of night, committing the murders.
Following the killings, Ndlovu kidnapped his wife, forcing her to illegally cross back into Botswana. She, however, managed to alert border police on patrol, providing them with information about her kidnapping and the murders of her parents.
Ndlovu and his accomplice attempted to flee, but Ndlovu was apprehended. Mathukuthu, his co-accused, evaded capture and remains at large.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) highlighted this tragic case as a stark reminder of how domestic tensions can escalate into horrific and irreversible violence.
“This tragic case serves as a painful reminder of how domestic tensions can tragically escalate into horrific and irreversible violence. The NPA implores citizens to speak out against domestic violence,” the NPA noted.
