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A tip off from a Harare faith healer has led to the arrest of three murder suspects who allegedly stabbed a city vendor to death following a misunderstanding over $200 dollar change on Monday night.

Three artisanal miners Tinotenda Zemba (20) Kudzanai Sala (21) and John Cheutare (age not given), believed to have been destined for Jumbo Mine in Mazowe allegedly stabbed the deceased five times before fleeing the scene on Boxing Day.

Popularly known as “Tobie” and based at the corner of Sam Nujoma Street and Fife Avenue in the capital, Tobias Mwanyenya met his fate on Boxing Day over a row over change.

It is said the trio bought some cigarettes and bananas from Mwanyenya using a US$1 note and an argument is said to have ensued after they were given $200 in local bond notes as change. 

This reportedly did not go down well with the alleged killers who argued it was not enough resulting in the stabbing which led to death of Tobie.

The incident  is said to have happened at around 10pm and the body was taken to a mortuary yesterday morning.

After the callous murder, the trio reportedly approached a  local faith healer who declined to assist them and instead tipped off the police leading to the suspects’ arrest.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident, saying the vendor was approached by three young men who bought some cigarettes and bananas using a US$1 note.

They were given 200 Zimbabwean dollars change and a fight broke out resulting in the vendor being stabbed five times.

The suspects ran away and decided to approach a prophet to help them deal with a potential avenging spirit in line with traditional beliefs.

“The prophet, however, declined to assist them, saying they had blood on their hands. He phoned the police and they were arrested on the spot.”

The killers are now in custody pending further investigations and the deceased is believed to have died of heavy bleeding.

When The Herald visited the crime scene yesterday, the deceased’s family members were cleaning blood stains. A sombre atmosphere engulfed the whole area as female relatives wept uncontrollably.

Mr Moses Matiyase, an uncle to the deceased, said Tobie was a very humble and hard-working man who had been working in that area for eight years.

Mr Sydney Biton, a friend to the deceased, said: 

“Tobie was a good friend and he never fought with anyone. Usually he would go for music shows for entertainment and come back to his usual place to work.” Police expressed concern over the rise in murder and rape cases. 

“If somebody has wronged you, find peaceful methods of resolving your differences,” said Ass Comm Nyathi .

Meanwhile, police are also investigating a murder case after a boy allegedly killed his father in a family dispute on  Christmas Day.