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A COWDRAY PARK man is fortunate to be alive after a brutal attack by four machete-wielding thugs, who robbed him of US$1.
Fortune Ncube (40), a grinding mill attendant at Entumbane Complex, experienced the terrifying ordeal after finishing work around 6pm on a Monday.
As he walked home along a footpath, disaster struck. Two men accosted and greeted him casually. However, before he could respond, two more individuals ambushed him from behind.
“They grabbed him and one of them struck him on the forehead with a machete,” a source privy to the incident said. They continued to hit him on the head and shoulder. He collapsed while bleeding profusely.”
The attackers further hacked Ncube’s palm and shoulder, leaving him barely conscious.
The callous robbers searched his pockets, finding only a dollar. They then fled into the darkness.
Ncube’s desperate cries for help alerted nearby residents, who rushed to his assistance.
He was taken to Luveve Police Station before being transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
Police confirmed the incident.
“Yes, we received a report of a man who was attacked by four unknown assailants while walking along a footpath,” said Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.
“We urge the public to avoid using isolated footpaths, especially at night, as this makes them vulnerable to criminals.”
The near-fatal attack has left Cowdray Park residents living in fear. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Sangoma stumbles on corpse during cleansing ceremony
What was meant to be a simple cleansing ceremony at the river was cut short by a gruesome discovery. A Bulawayo traditional healer’s spiritual mission failed to materialise when he unexpectedly discovered a dead man in the bush, just before commencing his cleansing ceremony.
Tinos Dube (51), a sangoma from Tshabalala suburb, was leading a group of six individuals for cleansing at the Umguza River, near Kingsdale plots, when the situation took a chilling turn.
“We had just arrived and parked the car. He went into the bushy area with one of his clients to perform pre-cleansing rituals,” a source from the group recounted.
However, Dube stumbled into a man’s corpse lying face down.
Startled and shaken, the sangoma and his client sprinted back to the rest of the group.
“They told us what they saw. A few of us went back to confirm and there it was — a man, dead, bleeding from the head. It was evident that something terrible had happened.”
Police later confirmed that the body displayed signs of struggle and head injuries consistent with stabbing.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the grim discovery.
“We are investigating a suspected murder … The body had visible injuries and there were signs of a struggle. We urge anyone with information to report it to the nearest police station.” — B-Metro
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Rusape man dies after assault by wife in infidelity row
A domestic dispute in Rusape over alleged infidelity turned fatal when a wife allegedly assaulted her intoxicated husband.
Police have arrested Netsai Matsikira (38) of Vengere suburb in connection with the death of her husband, Charles Chikukwa (42).
Matsikira faces a murder charge under Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Authorities say the couple had long-running domestic issues. Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said Matsikira allegedly pushed her husband, who reportedly fell as a result and hit his head on the pavement.
She then allegedly struck him in the abdomen and chest with a stick. Upon realising Chikukwa was unconscious, Matsikira reportedly hired a taxi to take him to hospital.
“The deceased and accused person were husband and wife and on April 18, 2025, in the evening, Chikukwa arrived home drunk and had an argument with his wife. He accused her of infidelity, claiming she was involved with another man,” Asst Insp Chinyoka said.
“During the altercation, Matsikira pushed Chikukwa and he fell headfirst onto a brick pavement. Matsikira then went to the kitchen, took a gumtree stick and used it to assault Chikukwa once on the stomach and twice on the chest. When she realised he was unconscious, she called her two daughters, who helped her carry him to their bedroom.
“Matsikira later hired a taxi to transport Chikukwa to Rusape General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter was reported to the police, who attended the scene, examined the body and noted bruises on the chest. The body was taken to the hospital mortuary for a post-mortem . . . ”
He urged couples to seek peaceful resolutions to marital problems by involving close relatives.
“As the police, we want to remind people that violence is not the answer. Married individuals should seek assistance from close relatives or church members when facing challenges in their marriage. Life is precious and should not be lost over trivial matters,” he said. — Manica Post
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Wife convicted of burning property belonging to husband’s lover
A 28-year-old woman from Shurugwi has been convicted of malicious damage to property after she vandalised property belonging to her husband’s girlfriend in Penhalonga.
Moreblessing Kamupira recently appeared before Mutare magistrate Xavier Chipato on charges related to the property of Talent Mutandwa (31).
Prosecutor Chris Manyuku said on April 15, around 5pm, Kamupira went to Mutandwa’s residence at Nyazika Shop in Penhalonga, accusing her of having an affair with her husband.
When Mutandwa denied the allegations, an enraged Kamupira allegedly locked her inside the house and threatened to set it on fire. Mutandwa managed to escape after someone unlocked the door from outside.
The prosecution further alleged that Kamupira returned, took Mutandwa’s belongings, including four skirts, two golf T-shirts, four plain T-shirts, seven blankets and US$370 that was reportedly hidden under the blankets, and set them ablaze.
Kamupira, however, claimed that Mutandwa was the aggressor after challenging her to a fight.
“She is the one who invited me to Penhalonga, saying if I was bothered by her affair with my husband, I should come and fight her first,” Kamupira said.
She added that she immediately boarded a bus from Shurugwi to Mutare.
“I was already planning to visit my children in Penhalonga, but I brought forward my trip because I could not stomach my husband’s extra-marital affair,” she explained.
Chipato strongly criticised Kamupira’s arrogance and impulsive actions, questioning why she did not consult her husband before taking matters into her own hands.
“You are saying you travelled all the way from Shurugwi to cause chaos without even discussing the issue with your husband first?” Chipato enquired.
Mutandwa told the court that she was a sex worker and Kamupira’s husband was one of her regular clients.
“Your worship, to be honest with you, I am a sex worker and her husband is one of my regular clients. He only contacts me for business,” said Mutandwa.
She claimed Kamupira burned her blankets, along with the US$370 she had hidden under her pillow. She, however, failed to convince the court that her money was part of the property that had been burnt.
Kamupira was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, three months were suspended on condition she compensates for the damaged property and the remaining seven months were suspended on condition she performs 270 hours of community service at ZRP Penhalonga. — Manica Post
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