Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A MAN from Lupane district in Matabeleland North, who fatally stabbed his 17-year-old neighbour with an okapi knife following a dispute over US$10, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Bongani Lunga (34) of Sizinke village under Chief Mabhikwa, who was initially facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Confidence Ndlovu, was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, who is on circuit in Hwange.
Lunga will serve an effective eight years in jail after two years were conditionally suspended for five years.
According to a statement of agreed facts, on 31 August last year at around 7pm, Lunga and Ndlovu were at a gambling school at Lusulu Business Centre in Binga, when an altercation ensued.
The prosecutor, Mr Mncedisi Dube said while gambling, the now-deceased snatched away US$10 from Lunga.
Ndlovu’s action angered Lunga resulting in a quarrel that degenerated into a fight.
The court heard that the now-deceased, who was wielding an axe, struck Lunga on the elbow. In retaliation, Lunga pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the deceased once on the left side of the chest and he collapsed and died on the spot.
After committing the offence, Lunga fled from the scene leaving behind the knife. A report was made to the police leading to Lunga’s arrest.
In his defence through his pro deo lawyer, Mr Charles Muleza of the Legal Aid Directorate, Lunga said he was provoked and he acted in self-defence.
Meanwhile, appearing before the same judge, a Victoria Falls man who went berserk and axed his 60-year-old mother to death, was committed to a mental institution.
Paul Jubane (35) of BH28 under Chief Mvuthu area, armed himself with an axe before he brutally hacked his mother to death while his father watched helplessly.
The axe lodged in the deceased’s head. Justice Dube-Banda committed Jubane to Mlondolozi prison — a mental health institution at Khami Maximum Security Complex.
He ruled that Jubane could not be held legally responsible for his actions as he was mentally unstable at the time of murdering his mother, Mrs Irene Jubane.
Justice Dube-Banda, ordered Jubane to be confined to
as he was a danger to society.
He retained a special verdict of not guilty of murder because of insanity in terms of section 29 (2) of the Mental Health Act.
Prosecuting, Mr Dube said on June 24 last year at around 8am, the now-deceased was watering vegetables in her garden, when Jubane stormed out of his bedroom carrying an axe before approaching her from behind.
“Without warning, Jubane indiscriminately struck his mother on the back of the head with the axe and she fell to the ground and died on the spot,” he said.
After committing the gruesome murder, Jubane fled from the homestead to seek help from the neighbours, leaving behind the body in a pool of blood.
According to the postmortem report, the cause of death was brain damage, skull fracture and chop wound, as a result of the attack.
A report was made to the police leading to Jubane’s arrest. It was stated in court documents that Jubane suffered from substance-induced psychosis.
The murder case has brought to the fore the impact of drug and substance abuse, which health experts have warned may lead to mental illness or death. Government is currently battling to contain an upsurge in drug and substance abuse, especially among the youth.
Online Reporter