Bongani Ndlovu
ZIMPAPERS Online Reporter
A POPULAR Bulawayo bouncer, Tinashe Marima, who is widely known as Mhofu, allegedly teamed up with his co-accused, Leo Zulu, to attack a 49-year-old man.
Mhofu and Zulu appeared in court yesterday before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Themba Chimiso facing an assault charge. They pleaded not guilty.
In his defence, Mhofu said: “The complainant, Johnson Gumbochuma, was involved in an argument with a man who is a stranger to me. I intervened to restrain the stranger who was seething with anger and intended to beat him up. I never assaulted him.”
Zulu said: “I did not trip him. When the incident happened, I was a few metres away.”
The matter was postponed to 27 January for continuation of the trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Samuel Mpofu told the court that Mhofu charged at the complainant before slapping him on the face over an undisclosed issue.
“The incident happened on 24 August 2025 at Queenspark West shops in Bulawayo. The first accused person (Mhofu) assaulted the complainant with an open hand once on the face over an undisclosed issue. The second accused person (Zulu) then joined in and tackled the complainant, causing him to fall to the ground. The first accused then proceeded to hit the complainant with fists and open hands and kicked him several times on the ribs and right shoulder. The second accused hit the complainant with fists and open hands on the face and kicked him several times all over the body,” he said.
The aggrieved Gumbochuma then reported the matter to the police and was referred to hospital for medical attention. A medical report will be produced in court as evidence.
Online Reporter