Online Reporter
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A 44-YEAR-OLD man from Binga has landed in court accused of turning a shared meal into a deadly trap after he allegedly poisoned two coworkers at a Nyamandlovu farm.
Robert Muleya, employed at Chechire Farm, was dragged before Bulawayo Magistrate Beverly Madzikatire, facing two counts of attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody, with trial set to resume tomorrow.
According to State Prosecutor Owen Mugari, the chilling incident took place on 3 December 2024, when Muleya allegedly laced the food of Sydney Sibanda and Jonathan Tshuma with a toxic substance.
“In count one, the accused placed poison in Sibanda’s food with the intention to kill him. On the same day, he did the same to Tshuma,” said Mugari.
A fellow farm worker, Bongani Tshuma, dropped a bombshell in court, saying he overheard Muleya making ominous threats the night of the incident.
“I warned him about what he was planning, but he looked me in the eye and said, ‘Some will ingest poison and die like dogs,’” Bongani testified.
He further revealed that Muleya sourced the poison from a discarded five-litre chemical container found in the fields.
That same night, the farmworkers had slaughtered a cow that had been injured and was unable to walk properly, following instructions from their employer.
“As the victims ate the meat, they began complaining that it tasted strange. Minutes later, they were vomiting violently and clutching their stomachs in pain,” said Bongani.
In a bizarre twist, the court heard that the victims’ vomit was consumed by two dogs on the property. One of the dogs reportedly turned on the other in a frenzy before both animals died shortly after.
The two poisoned workers were first rushed to St James Hospital and later transferred to Mpilo Hospital for advanced treatment.
In his defence, Muleya denied any wrongdoing, claiming the victims simply reacted badly to the meat from the sick cow.
The trial continues.
