Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO shebeen queen who fatally stabbed a patron for calling her a prostitute during a drinking spree at a bottle store in Pumula East suburb, has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in jail.
Sithembiso Mzizi (55) of Pumula East suburb smashed a beer bottle at Zenzele Bottle Store and used the jagged ends to stab Mr Marshal Mkhwananzi (20) in the neck.
Mzizi was on Tuesday convicted of murder with constructive intent by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa.
In passing sentence, Justice Kabasa condemned Mzizi’s actions saying the courts do not condone acts of violence.
“The courts frown upon violence and those who take other people’s lives should be removed from the society for a long period. The victim died a painful death at a very young age,” she said.
Justice Kabasa said in passing sentence the court also took into account the fact that Mzizi was remorseful as she assisted in the deceased’s burial.
She however said Mzizi’s aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigatory ones.
Justice Kabasa said had it not been for the accused’s age and that she was remorseful, she could have passed a longer sentence.
The prosecutor, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said on March 30 in 2019, Mzizi and Mr Mkhwananzi had a misunderstanding at Zenzele Bottle Store where they were drinking beer. This was after the deceased labelled the accused a prostitute.
During the altercation, Mzizi got angry and she smashed a beer bottle she was holding against the wall and stabbed Mr Mkhwananzi with the broken bottle in the neck.
Mr Mkhwananzi was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he died a few minutes upon arrival.
According to the post mortem report, the cause of death was due to haemorrhagic shock, a cut on major blood vessels of the neck and lung injury.
In her defence through her lawyers Masiye-Moyo and Associates, Mzizi said she reacted to provocation but it was not her intention to kill the deceased. She said she acted in retaliation after Mkhwananzi slapped her in the face.
“We had a dispute after the deceased called me a prostitute before he slapped me in the face. At that point, I moved backwards and he pushed me to a corner and continued attacking me,” she said.
“The deceased persistently attacked me and realising that he was not stopping, I smashed a beer bottle which I was holding to scare him hoping he would retreat but he continued to attack me.”
Mzizi said she stabbed the deceased in a bid to defend herself.
“When I attacked the deceased, I was gripped with fear and acted instinctively to protect myself. At that time, I did not appreciate that the force I applied in trying to repel the attack would cause such injury,” she said.–@mashets
Online Reporter