Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
A BOOZE-DRIVEN rampage by a senior Zimbabwe National Army officer ended in blood, bruises and chaos after he turned a Mzilikazi sports bar into a battlefield.
The military man allegedly attacked two security guards and a patron for stopping him from harassing women in the toilet.
Munyaradzi Marimbindi, who was reportedly guzzling the wise waters with friends, flew into a rage when staff tried to restrain him from disturbing women using the restroom. What followed was a brutal, commando style beat-down that left three men nursing serious injuries, including a gaping wound on the back of one unlucky imbiber.
The violent drama, which has left the community in shock, unfolded last week and was swiftly reported to the police. Marimbindi was arrested and later dragged to court where he faced three counts of assault before Bulawayo magistrate Maxwell Ncube.
The decorated soldier, however, sang a different tune in court, pleading not guilty through his lawyer, who painted a picture of a misunderstood father on a wholesome night out.
According to the defence, Marimbindi had gone to the bar with his children for a supposed family outing. But as the night progressed, he bumped into old acquaintances and joined them in downing booze.
Things allegedly took a turn when he was told there was a fight outside involving someone he knew. His lawyer claimed the soldier stepped in to break up the scuffle, not to throw punches, and denied laying a hand on anyone.
“He was only restraining people. He doesn’t know why they were fighting,” argued the defence.
But the prosecution has a much darker version of events.
Mbaki Moyo (24), a security guard on duty, testified that he rushed to the toilets after hearing screams and chaos. Inside, he claimed he found Marimbindi attacking patrons. When Moyo tried to intervene, Marimbindi allegedly turned on him and threw some bone-jarring haymakers, leaving his forehead and one eye swollen.
In fear and pain, Moyo screamed for help. His colleague, Nhlanhla Ncube (21), came running, but ended up as the next victim. He was met with a slapstorm and a broken beer bottle, in an attack that left him shaken and bruised.
But the worst was yet to come.
Fanuel Vhiki, an unsuspecting imbiber, tried to calm the situation but was met with a flurry of blows and a machete attack. Yes — a machete! The court heard that Marimbindi struck him all over the body, leaving him with a deep wound on his back.
Witness Tatenda Nyapfumbi confirmed the carnage. “I positively witnessed Marimbindi attacking Fanuel Vhiki, who was lying on the ground, helpless. He was crying out, saying he had been stabbed at the back,” said Nyapfumbi in his chilling testimony.
As Marimbindi allegedly turned to launch attacks on other patrons, Vhiki seized the moment to get up and run for dear life.
The accused soldier was remanded out of custody and is expected back in court on 12 May for continuation of the trial.
