Death in fight for $5 airtime

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
A 30-year-old gold panner from Mberengwa was allegedly killed by his nephew, a fellow gold panner, over a $5 airtime recharge card.

Mr Dulis Munatsa of Kaguvi Village under Chief Maziofa, Mberengwa died at United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) three days after he was allegedly struck on the head with a wooden plank by Timoth Dube (23).

Dube yesterday appeared before Mberengwa resident magistrate Mrs Evia Matura facing murder charges.

He was remanded in custody to September 21 and Mrs Matura advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

Asked if he had complaints against the police, Dube said he was remorseful for fatally striking his uncle over $5 air time recharge card.

“He gave me money to buy airtime worth $5 in the morning of the fateful day. In the afternoon he asked for his airtime which I didn’t have and he started fighting me. He was the aggressor and I picked up a wooden plank and hit him on the left side of his head in self-defence and he fell down.

“He was rushed to Munene District Hospital before he was transferred to a Bulawayo Hospital. I was shocked to learn that he had passed on,” said a remorseful Dube.

Prosecutor Ms Wadzanayi Shayanewako told the court that on September 7 around 4.30PM, Dube hit Munatsa with a wooden plank once on the right side of the head from behind.

She said Munatsa fell down.

“Munatsa had asked Dube the airtime which he had sent him to buy in the morning. Munatsa bled profusely and was rushed to Munene District Hospital.

Upon arrival he was transferred to United Bulawayo Hospital and passed away on September 9,” she said.

Ms Shayanewako said a report was made to the police leading to the arrest of Dube.