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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
AN Esigodini man axed his 84-year-old father to death following a dispute over a neighbour’s cattle which had strayed into their garden, a High Court judge heard yesterday.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva heard this when Nkosilathi Sibanda, 43, of Luvuma village appeared before him in connection with the death of his father, Simeon Sibanda.
Nkosilathi is facing a charge of murder with actual intent.
Prosecuting, Samuel Pedzisayi said on July 11 last year shortly after 9AM, Nkosilathi was chopping firewood using a machete along a footpath in a bush leading to his family garden when his father approached him.
Sibanda, who was coming from his homestead, asked his son why he had driven their neighbour’s cattle into the bush instead of taking them to their disused field.
The court heard that Nkosilathi responded harshly. Sibanda was not amused by the manner in which his son answered and immediately ordered him to leave his home.
Nkosilathi was angered by his father’s reaction and struck him thrice on the head with the machete and he fell down.
“Soon after committing the crime, Nkosilathi fled from the scene leaving his father lying in a pool of blood,” said Pedzisayi.
Nkosilathi hid the blood stained machete in their family garden.
Sibanda was later discovered by his granddaughter who alerted elders.
Similo Sibanda, Nkosilathi’s nephew, in his testimony yesterday described his uncle as a cheeky and harsh person who had total disregard for his father.
“I was home when my young brother came and told me that our grandfather was lying near the garden in a pool of blood. When I arrived at the scene he was still breathing and he managed to tell me that it was Nkosilathi who struck him with a machete. We reported the matter to the police before my grandfather was taken to hospital where he died on being admitted,” said Similo.
“I’ve always known my uncle as a cheeky person who never respected our grandfather. At one time, our grandfather fled from his home after Nkosilathi assaulted our grandmother.”
In his defence, through his lawyer, Sifisosethu Nkomo of R Ndlovu and Partners, Nkosilathi said it was not his intention to kill his father. He said he acted out of anger after Sibanda demanded that he vacate his homestead.
“I admit that I caused the death of my father, but I didn’t intend to kill him. I was angry after he ordered me to leave our family homestead. My father treated me like a toy and every time he would insult me or no apparent reason but I would tolerate him. We are peasant farmers and whenever we harvested he would not allow me to sell the farm produce,” said Nkosilathi.
The trail continues today.
Online Reporter