Three Zimbabwean illegal immigrants, accused of fatally stabbing their 18-year-old colleague before dumping his body along the N1 Highway about 2 km outside the Beitbridge Border Post, appeared at Musina magistrate’s court on Friday (30 March).

The trio, Mkhululi Mcubi (20), Nkululeko Mcubi (19) and Pee Ndlovu (22), all from Zimbabwe, appeared in court on murder charges and their case was postponed until Tuesday, 10 April. They were denied bail and will remain in custody.

The court was told that, on 27 March at around 05:30 AM, the suspects, who were part of a group of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, had an altercation with the victim resulting in their (the suspects’) ganging up before they fatally assaulted him.

Initially, police suspected the victim had been run over by a car until they eventually discovered some drag marks and drops of blood near the scene of the incident, apparently indicating that the victim was murdered in a bushy area before the body was dumped by the road. This was a well-planned move by the suspects, which was aimed at giving a false impression that the man was fatally hit by a speeding vehicle.

The body was discovered by a motorist who then reported the matter to the police. The corpse was subsequently conveyed to the Musina Government mortuary for a post mortem.

The incident comes barely two months after another 21-year-old illegal immigrant from the neighbouring country was allegedly stoned to death by his fellow countrymen at Mushongoville suburb in Musina, following an undisclosed dispute.