Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara [email protected]
A man from Nkayi who lowered an 11-year-old boy into a well with a rope to retrieve a bucket, leading to the child’s drowning, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
29-year-old Prosper Dube of Sivomo Village under Chief Madliwa was convicted of culpable homicide by Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla.
Dube will, however, serve an effective three-year jail term after two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that on April 16 this year at around midday, Dube instructed the now deceased Siyabonga Sibanda to assist him in retrieving a bucket that had fallen into a 15-metre-deep well.
The court heard that the accused had gone to the well to fetch water when the bucket used to draw water accidentally slipped and fell inside.
“As he was figuring out ways to retrieve the bucket, the complainant’s mother warned him against attempting to retrieve it saying it was dangerous to do so,” said Ms Mutapi.
When the complainant’s mother returned to her homestead, Dube called the now deceased to assist him in retrieving the bucket despite the earlier warning.
He then lowered the juvenile into the well using a rope, but the boy fell into the well and drowned.
The court heard that the body of the now deceased was later retrieved and taken to Nkayi District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A post-mortem was conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals on April 20, and the cause of death was established as mechanical asphyxia and drowning.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Dube’s arrest.
Bongani Ndlovu