Man axed during beer brawl

A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Bulilima District in Matabeleland South Province is battling for his life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after he was axed during a beer brawl resulting in the blade being lodged in his head.

Doctors at Mpilo Central Hospital managed to remove the axe blade after the victim had travelled a distance of 120 km from Diba Business Centre to Bulawayo.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which happened on Saturday at Diba Business Centre.

She said the suspect is on the run.

“The suspect armed himself with a hand axe and went to Diba Business Centre in Bulilima District at around 10pm where he found Mr Lelani Ndlovu and his friend Mr Phumulani Ncube drinking beer,” said

Insp Mangena.

The suspect who is yet to be named confronted Mr Ndlovu and Mr Ncube and started shouting at them.

“Mr Ndlovu and Mr Ncube ssked the suspect to stop his behaviour and an altercation ensued. The suspect struck Mr Ndlovu with an axe on the head and it got stuck,” said Insp Mangena.

Sensing danger, Mr Ncube tried to run away but the suspect struck him with a brick on the face and fled from the scene.

The matter was reported at Plumtree Police Station and Mr Ndlovu and Mr Ncube were rushed to Plumtree District Hospital where Mr Ndlovu was later transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital.

Insp Mangena appealed for information which may lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Prof Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed that they removed the blade from Ndlovu’s head following a surgical operation.

“We attended to Mr Lelani Ndlovu and he was operated on and we removed the axe which was stuck in his head. He is still admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and his condition is critical,” he said.@themkhust.