Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
TWO Bulawayo men have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking a complainant with a bottle containing acid, causing severe burns to his head, face, chest and arms.
Handsome Ngwenya (25), of Namchina Village A3, Hope Fountain, and Bongani Ndlovu (30), of Iminyela, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla facing charges of attempted murder and were found guilty.
The duo attacked Melusi Nkomo (20), an artisanal miner from Village A3, Hope Fountain.
The complainant also appeared in court and was visibly in pain, bearing serious burns from the acid attack.
In passing sentence, the magistrate sentenced the two accused persons to 10 years’ imprisonment each, with two years suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. They will effectively serve eight years each.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on December 29 last year, at around 1pm, the complainant and Ngwenya had a misunderstanding during which the complainant grabbed Ngwenya by the collar. This did not sit well with Ngwenya, who then enlisted Ndlovu.
“At around 7pm on the same day, the two accused persons proceeded to Trymore’s homestead, where the complainant was drinking beer with his friends. The two arrived armed with bottles containing acid.
“Ngwenya shone a torch at the complainant while he was seated on a bench, and Ndlovu then struck the complainant on the head with a bottle containing acid,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that the complainant sustained serious burns to the head, face, chest and arms and was referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals for medical treatment.
Some of the acid also splashed onto Mzingaye Ashton Ncube, a friend of the complainant, injuring him on the face and chest and leaving him with visible burns.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the duo.
