Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
Midlands Bureau
Benjamin Chipapata (26) of Ngazimbi Village, Chief Ngezi, Chegutu in the Mashonaland West Province has been jailed for 50 years for murder and attempted murder.
Chipapata pleaded not guilty to the murder of Judith Ruzive (40) and the attempted murder of Chido Mnkandla (25) outside Mzansi Nite Club in Shurugwi on March 8, 2019.
But Justice Munamato Mutevedzi of the High Court in Bulawayo, sitting in Gweru, and his two assessors eventually found him guilty of both attacks, and the judge then passed the half-century sentence.
Justice Mutevedzi said the targeted attack on the defenceless women was uncalled for.
“The people who declare hatred for women should be removed from a society dominated by women.” Justice Mutevedzi said Chipapata’s actions demonstrated hatred for women, adding that society could not tolerate such conduct.
Prosecuting, Mr Talent Tadenyika told the court that Chipapata, after a dispute with two unidentified men, brandished a machete and declared that he did not want to see any woman near the nightclub.
He then struck Ruzive repeatedly on the head and body at around 2am on March 8, 2019, killing her instantly. He also attacked Mnkandla, hacking her several times on the head, hands and thighs.
Ruzive was selling her wares at her vending stall outside Mzansi Nite Club when Chipapata was drinking beer in the nightclub with other patrons.
He had a misunderstanding with two unidentified male adults outside the nightclub, and a fight ensued. Chipapata retrieved a machete, and the two men ran away and disappeared into the night.
Chipapata returned to the nightclub, wielding the machete, and declared that he did not want to see any woman within the vicinity of the club.
Like a possessed person, Chipapata started beating any woman he came across with the flat side of the machete he was wielding. The court heard that patrons and vendors started running away in different directions.
Chipapata then went after Ruzive, caught up with her and struck her using the sharp edge of the machete on the left palm. He then struck her on the head and all over the body. Ruzive fell down bleeding profusely and was ferried to Shurugwi District Hospital where she died upon admission.
The attempted murder arose when Chipapata, after indiscriminately attacking Ruzive and leaving her for dead, went after Mnkandla and struck her with a machete twice on the head, once on both hands, twice on both thighs and once on the left foot. The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
A post-mortem by Dr Roberto Lara Diaz at United Bulawayo Hospitals found Ruzive had died of a severe skull fracture and subdural haemorrhage caused by chop wounds from the machete.
Mnkandla survived after receiving treatment at Shurugwi District Hospital for multiple deep lacerations.
