Online Reporter
Tsenulo Moyo
TWO brothers from Bulawayo have appeared in court facing attempted murder charges.
Edwin Sayi (33) and Prince Tshuma (36), from Lobengula West, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla, facing two counts of attempted murder.
They both pleaded not guilty. The court heard that on 24 December 2024, at around 5AM at Marisha Cocktail Bar in Old Magwegwe, Bulawayo, Abide Sibanda was drinking beer when Sayi approached and insulted him.
When Sibanda asked why he was being insulted, Sayi allegedly slapped him several times in the face.
Sayi’s brother, Prince Tshuma, then allegedly joined in and stabbed Sibanda once in the stomach with an Okapi knife.
It was further heard that at the same time and place, the second complainant, Thamsanqa Nyoni (26), saw his friend, only identified as Michael, being assaulted by Sayi. When Nyoni intervened, Sayi allegedly assaulted him. Tshuma then allegedly joined in and stabbed Nyoni in the back.
Sibanda testified in court that he was leaving Marisha Cocktail Bar when he saw Sayi insulting people outside.
He questioned him, which led to the assault. He said that while he was apologising, Tshuma came and stabbed him on the left side of his abdomen and left shoulder.
In his defence, Sayi claimed that Sibanda snatched his phone on the day of the alleged offence. He alleged that Sibanda and his friends then assaulted him, struck him with a brick, and caused him to fall.
“My brother, the co-accused, came and asked them why they were assaulting me. I heard one of them say, ‘You are also one of them.’ That is all I know about both counts,” he said.
Tshuma, in his defence, said he had gone back inside Marisha Cocktail Bar and returned to find Sayi lying on the ground being assaulted.
He alleged that he was also assaulted and stabbed in the right palm after asking why they were assaulting his brother.
“The first complainant, Sibanda, was accidentally stabbed while we were fighting over the knife,” he said.
Tshuma claimed he managed to take the knife from Sibanda, and the group attacking them dispersed.
Tshuma also alleged that both complainants and their friends are thieves who rob people and that they stole US$30 from his pocket.
Sibanda stated that due to his injuries, he can no longer do heavy work, and the wounds were still painful.
“This has affected me because I cannot do the work I used to do,” he said.
Nyoni also said he was assaulted by Sayi and stabbed Tshuma, who produced a knife from his pocket, after he tried to stop Sayi from assaulting Michael.
He also stated that due to the injuries he sustained, he can no longer perform hard labour.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the brothers’ arrest.
Peter Tanyanyiwa