Mashudu Mambo
A MAN from Nsuza village in Matabeleland North province has been nabbed after he thrashed a passerby with a log on the head in a dispute over a flashlight and stole his belongings.
Nortan Ncube appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza facing a charge of robbery and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody to Friday for continuation of trial.
During the trial, Ncube indicated that he was never at the scene on the day in question.
“I returned to the village on 10 April 2024 and l spent the next day at home with my mother. Our house is about 500 meters away from the tuckshop,” he said.
Thulani Sibanda who is the victim disputed this, stating that he had positively recognised the culprit.
“I was travelling using a cart with some friends on the day in question when l realised that the chain that connected the donkey to the cart had slackened so l had to disembark and fix it.
“I switched on my torch and Ncube who was at the tuck-shop enquired on why l was flashing them. Ncube together with some of his accomplices rushed to where l was and he hit me with a log on my forehead and l fell to the ground.
“While l was on the ground, l heard him telling his accomplices to stab me and it was at that moment when l got the strength to flee the scene,” he said.
Allegations against Ncube are that on 11 April 2024, Ncube together with his accomplices met up with Sibanda at a tuckshop.
Ncube warned Sibanda to stop flashing them with the torch and before he could switch it off, Ncube pounced on him and assaulted him with a log on his forehead. He went on to steal his phone and money.
The matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest. Sibanda was referred to the hospital for medical examination and a medical report was produced in court as evidence.
