Two suspects who were allegedly part of a gang that recently murdered a prominent Beit Bridge businessman, Mr Dambanyika Mbedzi, appeared in court on Friday, 3 October.

The accused, Savious Zhou Kuronga (26) and Blessing Tatenda Mhango (22), both of Dulibadzimu suburb in Beit Bridge, appeared before local magistrate, Mr Tawengwa Sangster, facing murder charges. The case was postponed to 17 October and no bail was granted to the accused.

The court was told that on 16 August, at around 18:00, the accused teamed up with three other suspects, who are still at large. They then went to a bushy area outside Beit Bridge town where they allegedly intended to waylay border jumpers and motorists.

The court heard that, during that time, they spotted Mr Dambanyika Mbedzi in the company of a female companion. The two had parked their car in the vicinity when the accused, armed with axes, iron bars and knives, descended on them. One of the suspects struck the window of the car, using a huge stone to gain access to the vehicle.

According to the testimony, soon after smashing the windowpane, the suspects then dragged Mr Mbedzi out of his car and demanded money. However, Mbedzi tried to wrestle with one of the suspects in a bid to disarm him, but the other suspects joined in the fight and overpowered the businessman.

The suspects then struck the victim several times in the chest and leg with an axe, so that he could not escape, while the woman he was with took to her heels.

The suspects got away with four cell phones.

The woman went and alerted some villagers who rushed to the scene where they found the victim lying in a pool of blood next to his bloodstained car, a Nissan March.

The villagers tried to give chase to the suspects, but they were outpaced. The suspects disappeared into the bush.