Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
TWO men have been sentenced to five years imprisonment for attempted murder after brutally attacking another man and leaving him severely injured during a dispute.
Pardon Moyo (28) and Bruce Ndlovu (25) pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder but were convicted due to overwhelming evidence by Gwanda regional magistrate Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele.
They were each sentenced to five years imprisonment of which two years were suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence within five years. They will serve an effective three year jail term.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said the two accused persons who were in the company of their two accomplices who are still at large attacked Mr Thembani Nkomo, with a log on the head, kicked and punched him all over the body and stabbed him once on the right side of the chest and once on the left arm.
The complainant is employed as a general worker at Buker Mine in Gwanda. The accused persons work at a neighbouring mining claim.
“On 11 November 2025 at around 8pm the complainant was on his way to his shack coming from the shops when he met the two accused persons who were in the company of two other men who are still on the run and demanded to know who had stolen their gold ore,” he said.
“Complainant responded stating that he didn’t know and this did not go down well with the accused persons who accused the complainant and his work mates of stealing their gold ore.
“Moyo struck the complainant with a log once on the head while Ndlovu and their accomplices kicked and punched Mr Nkomo all over the body. They then stabbed him twice, once on the right side of the chest and once on the left arm. The accused persons fled the scene. The complainant sustained cuts on the chest and arm,” said Mr Shumba.
He said the matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the two accused persons. The complainant was referred to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for treatment.
In passing her sentence Mrs Ndebele said the actions of the pair could have cost the life of the complainant. She said a custodial sentence was necessary to serve as a deterrent measure to like-minded people.
“Your actions could have cost the life of the complainant and it can’t be disputed that your intentions were to inflict the highest level of damage and harm to the complainant.
“The courts don’t condone violence and your actions have proven beyond reasonable doubt that you are a danger to society. A custodial sentence is, therefore, necessary as it will serve as a deterrent measure,” she said.
—@DubeMatutu
