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A Tsholotsho man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fatally stabbing a neighbour, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.
Mthandazo Ngwenya, age not given, but of Manxebana Line in Mbalibali was convicted of murder with constructive intent by High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema on circuit in Hwange recently sitting with Mr Felix Dube and Mrs Elizabeth Chazanga as assessors.
Five years were suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving Ngwenya with an effective 10 years.
He had offered a limited plea of culpable homicide arguing that he acted under extreme provocation and in self defence, but Justice Mutema said the court had the duty to decide whether he had lost his self-control as a result of the provocation. Ngwenya killed Mr Leon Ngwenya (26) from the same area, who was having an affair with his wife Ms Sindisile Mkhwananzi (26).
Mr Whisper Mabhaudhi from the Attorney General’s Office said on 29 October last year, Ngwenya invited Leon to his homestead where he started accusing him of the affair.
Leon fled from Ngwenya’s homestead and Ngwenya, who was armed with an Okapi knife, gave chase.
He stabbed him once on the lower part of the chest and Leon collapsed and died on the spot.
Witnesses told the court that on 17 October the same month, Ngwenya had assaulted Ms Mkhwananzi over the issue.
Ngwenya had explained to villagers that at some point he caught the two red handed in a bush and Leon fled.
Online Reporter