Man stabbed for gay slur

Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man is lucky to be alive after he was stabbed with an Okapi knife at a shebeen by a patron who accused him of being gay.
Mr Bongani Phiri (22), of 339 Nguboyenja suburb was treated and discharged at Mpilo Central Hospital following the alleged attack by Walter Kwanele at the shebeen, House Number 451 in the same suburb.
Kwanele is now facing a charge of attempted murder.

He was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove yesterday.
Kwanele, of Number 66 Nguboyenja was remanded in custody to 6 November.

The State led by Miss Vimbai Mutukwa would seek to prove that on Tuesday at 11.30pm while at the shebeen, a fight ensued between Mr Phiri and Kwanele who had referred to him as gay.

In the process, Kwanele allegedly drew an Okapi knife from his trousers’ pocket and stabbed Mr Phiri once on the left side of the chest. Mr Phiri sustained a deep cut and started bleeding.

Other patrons rushed him to hospital and a report was made to the police leading to Kwanele’s arrest.
Mr Phiri is now recovering at home.