Zambian Embassy advises two Zambians linked to Death of a Student in SA to hand themselves in

THE High Commission of Zambia in South Africa is saddened by reports linking two Zambians to the death of a student in Cape Town.

The Mission has since appealed to the two, who are said to have been identified as Stephen Kenneth Newman Chitobolo and Leo Milimo Chingwena to immediately hand themselves to the police in order to help with investigations.

Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba has also passed condolences to the bereaved family.

“We are saddened by reports linking two Zambian nationals to investigations of the suspected murder of Zanele Moyo in Cape Town.”

South African police are reportedly looking for two men believed to be Zambians in connection with the death of Zanele, who is daughter of Zimbabwean Minister of Higher Education, Professor Jonathan Moyo.
 
“We wish to pass our deep felt condolences to Honourable Jonanthan Moyo and the entire bereaved family for this tragic loss and hope that God will strengthen them during this difficult period,” Mr. Mwamba said.

He called for calm and patience to allow the police establish the facts and circumstances under which Zanele died.

 “It is not a period to pass blame, or condemnation until the truth is fully established. Zambia has a large population of students in colleges and universities in South Africa. The Zambians are known for their peace, discipline and general good conduct. This event, therefore, is sad but isolated,” he said.

Zanele’s lifeless body is said to have been discovered in a bath tub in her Cape Town flat on the morning of Saturday, 17th October, 2015. The cause of Zanele’s death remains unknown although a huge amount of blood was discovered on the floor.

South African media reports have quoted police spokesperson F.C. Van Wyk as saying that police had opened a murder investigation. Reports say that police were looking for one Stephen Kenneth Newman Chitobolo, who was the last to be seen with Zanele and his friend Leo Milimo Chingwena-both Zambian although Chingwena is also half Zimbabwean.
 
Chingwena reportedly introduced Zanele to Stephen who immediately took a liking to Professor Moyo’s daughter and by last week had started taking her out.
 
Stephen, according to media reports, has become a key person of interest after he used Zanele’s phone last Wednesday evening to call her friend, Nicole Bento, to tell her Zanele was “passing out”. Nicole is said not to have made much of the call, believing her friend had just taken one too many.
 
According to media reports, Stephen, who is now thought to have fled to Zambia, is said to have been spotted at the OR Tambo International Airport earlier this week by Zanele’s friend and sister, who were travelling to Zimbabwe.
 
Stephen is reported to have told the Moyo family and investigators that he will hand himself in before Friday this week to help detectives piece together Zanele’s final few hours.
 
Leo is thought to have left Cape Town for Johannesburg or Pretoria.
 
Other reports claim that Zanele, last Wednesday, indicated to Nicole that indeed Stephen was taking her out. But later that night, Nicole received a call from Stephen saying she should come over and lock up at Zanele’s.

Zanele’s family reported to have said that when the body was found on Saturday morning, it was dressed in the same clothes Zanele wore to a dinner with Stephen on Wednesday evening.