Online Reporter
Peter Matika [email protected]
WITH 68 murder cases on the roll, the Bulawayo High Court’s third term opens on Monday amid expectations of intense judicial activity as several high-profile killings, some dating back years, come before the courts.
According to the criminal cause list, the third term will run from Monday until November 25.
Among the cases set for trial is that of two Cowdray Park men accused of murdering a Bulawayo Polytechnic student during a robbery after she allegedly recognised one of her attackers.
Thamsanqa Ndebele (26) and Euton Sebatha (38) are accused of ambushing their neighbour, 23-year-old Inobubele Mhlanga, near the TM turn-off bus stop in Cowdray Park in November 2024 shortly after she had disembarked from a commuter omnibus.
The State alleges that the pair robbed Mhlanga of a handbag containing US$30.
During the robbery, Mhlanga allegedly recognised Sebatha, who lived in the same neighbourhood, and called him by name.
It is alleged that, fearing she would identify him to the authorities, Sebatha produced a flick knife and stabbed her several times, inflicting a deep wound above her right breast and defensive wounds on her hands.
Passers-by allegedly found Mhlanga lying in a pool of blood and rushed her to Mpilo Central Hospital, where she later died.
Prosecutors further allege that the two accused fled to a nearby nightspot, where they spent the stolen money on alcohol.
Also on the trial roll is Episode Mbedzi (34) of Siyoka, Beitbridge, who is accused of murdering his 80-year-old aunt after allegedly accusing her of witchcraft.
The State alleges that in 2022, Mbedzi forced his way into his aunt’s home and fatally struck her on the head with a three-legged pot.
The High Court is also expected to hear the case of three Bulawayo men accused of killing a mourner after allegedly mistaking him for a thief during a funeral wake in Mbundane suburb.
Mpumelelo Sibanda (45), Trevor Mpofu (37) and Edwin Dube (55) allegedly assaulted Christopher Rabvu (44) with sjamboks, resulting in his death in June 2024.
Another case involves suspected armed robbers Kholisani Nyathi, Nkosikhona Sibanda and Walter Mpunzi, who are accused of carrying out a violent robbery spree in Bulawayo’s western suburbs.
The trio allegedly targeted pedestrians at night while armed with axes, knobkerries and knives.
In one of the incidents, the accused allegedly struck a Pelandaba West man on the head with a knobkerrie before stabbing him in the left armpit, causing fatal injuries.
The State further alleges that the trio attempted to rape the deceased’s wife.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in May 2021.
A Mberengwa man, Takeknowledge Mthombeni (42), is also expected to stand trial for allegedly shooting dead a 21-year-old man at a Filabusi nightclub on Christmas Day in 2023 following a dispute over a missing token.
Prosecutors allege that Mthombeni had robbed another person of a firearm in Mberengwa two days before the shooting and then disappeared.
The term will also accommodate Supreme Court proceedings from November 16 to 20 before High Court criminal trials resume on November 23.
