The two suspects who recently brutally murdered a 28 year-old South Africa man by stabbing him with a knife before robbing him of R50 at Dumba Village near Beitbridge town in Zimbabwe, were each sentenced to an effective 15 years in jail on Tuesday.

Jacob Muleya (34) and Matodzi Muudza (25) who were arrested on separate occasions, were jointly convicted of murder charges by the Beitbridge regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu.

The court was told that on (Sunday) 27 April at around 22:00 at Dumba village, about 15km from Beitbridge town in Zimbabwe, the victim was with his cousin and they were coming from drinking beer at a nearby homestead, when they were confronted by the three suspects. One of the suspects, who were wielding knives and knobkerries, then grabbed the victim by the collar, while others searched his pockets before robbing him of R50.

They then stabbed him several times all over his body, using a knife, and he died on the spot. However, the victim’s cousin managed to escape and the suspects tried to chase after him, but he managed to outpace them.

Muudza was arrested, in May following a public tip-off as he reportedly attempted to skip the border into South Africa and Muleya was netted in on10 June while drinking traditional beer at a local tavern.

The third suspect is still at large and it is suspected he could have fled to South Africa.