Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A Budiriro man appeared in court on Wednesday, facing charges of attempted murder after a heated dispute over the ownership of an Okapi knife allegedly turned violent, leaving his colleague hospitalised with serious head injuries.
Challenge Kutadzaushe was told that he would need to apply for bail at the High Court as the charges fall under a third-schedule offence.
The complainant, Tadiwananshe Pedzisai Matapeta (31), also from Budiriro, is currently admitted in the intensive care unit at Sally Mugabe Hospital due to serious head trauma sustained during the incident.
Prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi told the court that on March 15, 2026, Kutadzaushe and Matapeta had a heated argument over possession of an Okapi knife, which was initially in the custody of an informant, Samson Muchedzi.
During the dispute, Matapeta allegedly grabbed the knife from Muchedzi, escalating tensions. It is alleged that Kutadzaushe reacted by punching Matapeta in the nose, causing him to fall and hit the back of his head on the edge of a snooker table.
The impact resulted in a serious head injury, leaving Matapeta unconscious. Instead of seeking immediate medical attention, the accused reportedly carried the injured man to a nearby shack and left him lying motionless.
The next morning, March 16, at around 10 am, Kutadzaushe returned to check on Matapeta and found him still unresponsive. He allegedly attempted to revive him by buying maheu, but Matapeta struggled to consume the drink due to his condition.
Later that evening, at around 8 pm, police officers on patrol received a tip-off about a seriously injured person lying in a shack. Upon their arrival, they found Matapeta still motionless, with Kutadzaushe present at the scene.
The accused was arrested on the spot. Matapeta was rushed to Sally Mugabe Hospital, where a CT scan confirmed a severe head injury.
He remains under intensive care as investigations continue. Kutadzaushe will remain in custody pending his bail hearing at the High Court.
