Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 27-YEAR-OLD man from Ipaye Village under Chief Tshitaudze in Beitbridge west has been jailed for an effective five years for whipping and stabbing another villager aged 24 years following an argument at the just-ended cattle sales.
Nkosilathi Ndlovu was convicted on one charge of attempted murder when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura on Monday.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya said Ndlovu and the complainant, Wisdom Mbedzi attended cattle sales at Toporo Business Centre in Beitbridge on October 18 together.
He said at around 8pm they left together with other villagers and headed to their homes.
Along the way, Ndlovu and the complainant had a heated argument over an undisclosed subject, resulting in a harsh exchange of words. A fight ensued between the two men and the accused assaulted the victim with a donkey whip and the two wrestled.
Resultantly, Ndlovu took an okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Mbedzi on the chest. He was restrained by other villagers, who rushed the complainant to the clinic. The matter was reported to the police who in turn arrested Ndlovu.
Cases of violent crimes have become common during most cattle sales around the district with mostly the youths using the opportunity to settle old scores.
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