BULAWAYO – It was a double murder that shocked and angered a small community in Mangwe, Matabeleland South.
Pensioners Nicholas Nleya, 83, and his wife is Margaret Nleya, 78, had retired to bed in their sprawling dream home in Empandeni on September 1 last year when police said they were beaten to death and their house set on fire.
Their bodies were burnt beyond recognition, but the family soon discovered that what they thought was a robbery gone bad was not quite as it seemed. Valuables like a television set and solar panels were not touched, although doors were not locked in rooms next to the couple’s bedroom.
The Nleya family and community are about to relive that tragedy after police made a breakthrough on Sunday with the arrest of the couple’s youngest son, ZimLive can reveal.
Police are ready to charge Lisani Nleya, 44, with the heinous killing of his parents in cold, premeditated fashion.
The family was informed on Sunday of the arrest, according to a family source who spoke to ZimLive.
Hours after the Nleya couple’s murder, a WhatsApp audio circulated implicating their youngest child in the murder – but few wanted to contemplate he was capable of such evil.
In that audio, the speaker said Lisani, a former soldier, was the black sheep of the family after failing to achieve the success of his siblings.
The audio claimed that Lisani had repeatedly made threats to kill his parents, accusing them of bewitching him and stunting his personal success.
Police sources said Lisani was arrested after returning from South Africa over the weekend. He has admitted to carrying out the killings.
He was taken to the crime scene on Monday by Bulawayo CID detectives for indications, and will appear in court on Tuesday morning.
The Nleya couple – both retired teachers – had 10 children, six of whom travelled from their bases in Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa to bury them.
