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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A Bulilima man , 23, ended up being admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at United Bulawayo Hospitals after an enraged driver severely assaulted him with a wheel spanner and a sjambok as punishment for blocking the road with his donkey-drawn cart.
Thomas Mutika who works in South Africa was driving along Gonde-Muke gravel Road in Bulilima when he was blocked by Prayer Mtimwe’s donkey-drawn cart.
Mutika was offended by Mtimwe who allegedly took long to move off the road to allow him to pass and he used a spanner and sjambok to assault him.
Mtimwe who sustained serious injuries, is now admitted at the ICU at UBH.
The South Africa-based Mutika yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, facing an attempted murder charge.
He was remanded in custody to January 11.
Prosecuting, Charlotte Katerere said Mutika stopped his vehicle and accused Mtimwe of being disrespectful before attacking him.
“On December 18, Mtimwe and his friend were heading home from Masendu Business centre in their donkey-drawn cart. Mutika who is based in South Africa was driving his car and he was coming from behind the cart.
“He hooted for Mtimwe to move off the road so he could pass but Mtimwe could not as it was not feasible to do so at that section of the road,” said Katerere.
She said when the scotch cart finally made way for the car, Mutika parked his car in front of the cart thereby blocking it.
Mutika pulled Mtimwe out of the scotch cart and started assaulting him all over the body using a sjambok and a wheel spanner.
Katerere said the South African based man only stopped the assault after realising that Mtimwe, who was bleeding profusely at the time, was not moving.
“Mutika left the cart driver lying unconscious on the ground and drove off. Mtimwe’s friend who had tried in vain to intervene, carried the injured man on his cart to Madlambuzi Clinic.
“Mtimwe was then referred to the UBH due to severity of his injuries,” she said.
Katerere said the matter was reported to the police on December 21 and Mutika who went into hiding after the assault, was arrested on December 26.
Online Reporter