adminTimoth Makohliso Midlands Reporter
A GWERU councillor who allegedly strangled a council employee following a dispute over the late payment of salaries by the local authority was back in court yesterday. MDC-T’s Ward 4 councillor, Kenneth Sithole, who allegedly assaulted Simbarashe Leboho in March, appeared before Gweru magistrate, Vimbai Makora, facing an assault charge.
He was remanded out of custody on free bail to 20 April.
Sithole is pleading not guilty. He argued that the allegations were a mere fabrication by the complainant as there is bad blood between them.
“I still deny the charges on the basis that there is bad blood between the complainant and I. He always insults me. I wanted him to beat me once and for all,” said Sithole.
He further told the court that Leboho was a close family associate who knew about his family challenges.
“He is a very close family associate and he used that to his advantage.
“Leboho insulted me using all sort of vulgar words. He knew that I had no children with my wife and that we had adopted them.
“When he saw me, he then shouted in public saying in Shona, ‘Ko ngomwa inodei pano iyi? (What does this impotent man want here?)’ before uttering vulgar words to me,” said Sithole.
For the State, Pearson Muringani told the court that on March 20 this year, Sithole and Leboho who is in the workers’ council were at Gweru City Council attending the disciplinary hearing of an employee, Kudzai Ziurawa.
Muringani said Leboho then asked Sithole why the local authority was failing to disburse employees’ salaries on time.
The court heard that this angered Sithole who then grabbed the complainant by the neck. This resulted in Leboho sustaining a swollen neck.
Muringani said the matter was reported to the police at Gweru Central Police Station leading to the arrest of Sithole.
Online Reporter