A former taxi boss shot and killed three members of a family before turning his firearm on himself. The incident took place at Murunwa, 7km from Siloam, around 09:00 last Friday (August 10).

Mr Rodrick Nemakonde allegedly arrived at a Murunwa private home and started to shoot randomly, leaving Ms Irene Tshidzumbe and her grandchildren, Wanga Tshidzumbe (4 months) and Ompha Tshidzumbe (6) dead.

Mr Mulalo Tshidzumbe, who lost a daughter and mother in this gruesome accident, said by the time he realized what was happening and wanted to call the police, Nemakonde continued shooting. "We accepted Nemakonde as our stepfather a long time ago, not knowing that he was evil man." Matamela Rambau, daughter of the deceased, added that she still couldn’t believe he had done these unthinkable things to her family.

Mirror has learned that before the man shot himself in the main bedroom, he set the wooden shack that is outside the house on fire. The motive of the shooting is unknown, but the police are investing the situation.

Irene and Ompha Tshidzumbe will be laid to rest at the Murunwa Cemetery on Saturday at 06:00, but it is not clear when Mr Nemakonde will be buried.

It is alleged that Nemakonde had threatened the survivor of the incident, Dakalo Tshidzumbe, with his licensed firearm on Tuesday (7 August 2007), but the police calmed the situation.

Mirror has also learned that a protection order was issued against Nemakonde in March after he started to intimidate the family.