adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
THREE Bulawayo men allegedly stabbed a 30-year-old man, robbed him of valuables worth $350 and left him for dead. Edmore Moyo, 31, Mthoniselwa Moyo, 32, and Savious Ndlovu, 38, allegedly attacked Kudakwashe Shumba of Pumula at around 10PM on August 19. Shumba told Western Commonage magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze that he collapsed and passersby found him the following morning.
Msipa Marondedze rolled the matter to 22 September for continuation of trial. “They took me to members of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee who called an ambulance. I was ferried to Mpilo Central Hospital where I was admitted for four days,” Shumba said.
A medical report produced in court indicated that Shumba sustained a swollen face and eyes, a 3cm laceration on the left cheek, a black eye and swollen eyes as a result of the attack. Shumba failed to link the three accused persons to the robbery, citing that he did not see the faces of his attackers as it was dark.
However, police recovered one of his stolen cell phones, which had a mobile tracker, from Thina Ndebele, who said Edmore sold him the phone. Shumba told the court that his wife received a text message that indicated the mobile number of the person using his cell phone.
He said: “I used TeleCash to see who was using my phone and discovered that it was Andrew Mwani. I informed the investigation officer handling my case, who in turn applied for call history. That’s how my cell phone was recovered.” However, the trio, who all pleaded not guilty to robbery, denied selling the stolen mobile phone, saying one Brian Sinyama sold it to Ndebele.
State witnesses said Mthoniselwa was wrongly accused as he was not there when Edmore and Ndlovu sold the phone. Sithokozile Ndebele said: “I only know Edmore and Ndlovu as we’re from the same neighbourhood. It’s my first time seeing Mthoniselwa. He wasn’t there when they sold my sister the phone.”
Mthoniselwa had earlier said he was arrested when he met Ndlovu while on his way to church. Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on August 19 at around10pm, Shumba was on his way from home when he was approached by the three men. “One of the accused persons stabbed him with a knife once on the right cheek before robbing him of two cell phones, sociology text books and $230,” Mageza said.
The value of the stolen property is $350 and only property worth $130 was recovered.
Online Reporter