Chronicle Editor
Midlands Bureau
THE High Court has sentenced a Kwekwe fuel dealer, Unganai Zvoushe (39), to 18 years in prison for murdering a fellow fuel dealer who reprimanded him for giving clients fake United States dollars.
Zvoushe appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Lucy Mugwari sitting in Gokwe on Wednesday.
He was convicted against his own plea of guilty and sentenced to effective 18 years in prison.
Prosecutor Ms Florence Mashandure told the court that Zvoushe, of Alarm 2 Mine, Kwekwe, murdered his colleague Mr Albert Saita in January 2022 after he reprimanded him against giving clients fake money.
She said the incident happened at Truckers Inn in Kwekwe where the two sold fuel.
“Circumstances are that sometime in January, on a date unknown to the prosecutor, Saita linked Zvoushe to a truck driver who wanted fuel. Zvoushe and the driver concluded the transaction and the driver left. He later returned and informed Saita that Zvoushe had given him a fake US$20 note,” she said.
Ms Mashandure said the truck driver noticed that the US$20 note was fake and gave it to Saita.
“Saita went to where other fuel dealers were gathered and without mentioning names reprimanded them against giving clients fake notes,” she said.
The court heard that Zvoushe, however, started fuming and shouting at Saita before leaving Truckers Inn.
Ms Mashandure said Zvoushe later returned around 2pm and assaulted Saita.
“The accused kicked the now deceased, slapped him several times and continued kicking him all over the body as he lay on the ground,” she said.
The court heard that Saita’s brother, Alous tried to refrain Zvoushe and he continued attacking Saita who lay helplessly on the ground.
“The deceased began bleeding and his right eye was swollen. He was taken to Kwekwe District Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries on February 6, 2022. Zvoushe was arrested after Saita’s death,” she said.
Online Reporter