Gold panner sentenced to 35 years for murder

A ZVISHAVANE gold panner has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by the High Court for fatally stabbing a friend with a knife 14 times following a dispute during a beer binge.

Solomon Ndlovu (30) of Plot Number 31 Zuderbeg was convicted of murder in connection with the death of Tinashe Siziba (22) whom he stabbed using a home-made knife for refusing to buy him a cigarette costing ZiG10.

Ndlovu appeared before High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, at the Gweru Circuit. He pleaded not guilty to the murder but was convicted after a full trial. The court heard that Mthombeni stabbed Siziba 14 times with a homemade knife.

In his ruling, Justice Mutevedzi said there is a need to value human life and condemned the senseless violence that led to Siziba’s death.

“Society must value life. Too many lives are being lost due to avoidable violence. The accused is sentenced to 35 years in prison,” he said.

The prosecutor, Ms Shalom Chikuni, told the court that on June 10, 2019, at around 10.45 pm, Siziba, Ndlovu and other patrons were drinking at Muneme Bottle Store in Zvishavane. A misunderstanding arose between the two, escalating into a fight.

“The accused withdrew a homemade kitchen knife from his trousers pocket and pursued the deceased, who had run about 50 metres from the bottle store. He caught up with him and stabbed him multiple times,” said Ms Chikuni.

The court heard that Siziba’s intestines protruded from his wounds, and he collapsed. Despite efforts to take him to the hospital, he died on the way.

A police report was made, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Hardlife Tawona, a friend of Siziba, testified that they had been drinking together earlier that day.
“At around 3pm, we went to Oreti Business Centre and drank beer outside before moving inside the bar. While there, Ndlovu approached me and asked for a cigarette. I told him I had no money and that Siziba was buying the drinks,” he said.

Ndlovu then asked Siziba to buy him a cigarette, but he refused, reminding Ndlovu that he had previously assaulted him for no reason.

“Later, at around 10pm, I left the bar, leaving Siziba and Mthombeni behind. The next morning, I heard that Siziba had been fatally stabbed,” he added.

Ms Auxillia Gatawa, a bar attendant at Muneme Bottle Store, said she witnessed Ndlovu pushing Siziba near the counter.
“They exchanged words before Siziba went outside. Ndlovu followed, and they engaged in a fistfight. Siziba picked up stones, and Ndlovu left but returned shortly after visibly searching for Siziba,” she said.

Ms Gatawa said Ndlovu later re-entered the bar holding a blood-stained homemade knife.
“He stood by the snooker table and shouted, Ndamupedzera(I am finally done with him). I later learned of Siziba’s death,” she said.

Constable Tryboy Muchadenyika testified that he visited the crime scene and found a pool of blood and signs of a struggle.
“I searched Ndlovu’s bedroom and found blood-stained sheets and a homemade knife hidden under the mattress. The knife had bloodstains and was taken as evidence. Ndlovu was arrested at Fakudzwa Makoni’s residence,” he said.