Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A BEER-DRINKING binge ended in tragedy in Mayo under Chief Makoni when an imbiber was allegedly elbowed on the mouth by a fellow villager for sipping more than his fair share of beer when his turn arrived.
Maurice Chidzidzi died four days later after allegedly being elbowed on the mouth by Lazarous Munawa (34), causing him to fall onto his back.
The two, along with four other villagers, were sharing bottles of Super Chibuku at a local shebeen.
Munawa has since been arrested and brought before Rusape Magistrate’s Court, facing murder charges.
The lower court advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.
In his bail application at the Mutare High Court, through his lawyer, Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates, Munawa averred that Chidzidzi’s death was purely accidental, as he did not intend to end his life.
He also said that during the beer-sharing session, Chidzidzi would gulp more sips when his turn arrived, which led to Munawa also wanting to drink more, resulting in the now-deceased attempting to take the bottle away from him.
Munawa said he accidentally hit Chidzidzi in the process, causing him to fall on the ground on his back.
“The applicant will state that all available witnesses will attest that the blow to the now deceased’s mouth was unintended and accidental, if they are to tell the truth. He would further state that any version other than that would be untruthful and motivated by malice or some other ulterior motive.
“The applicant will state that on May 22, 2025, at around 10pm, he was drinking beer with Manyanganise Nyarugwe, Kelvin Munawa, Watson Mukondo, Wellington Mukondo and the now deceased, Maurice Chidzidzi, at Mujuru Tuckshop, Mayo. He will state that they were buying bottles of Super beer, sipping, and putting them down.
“They were taking turns to drink the beer, but when it was the now deceased’s turn to sip, he would always continue to sip more, thereby short-changing the others in the round.
“Realising that the now deceased was continuing to drink in this manner, the applicant took the bottle of beer and indicated that he would have another round of sips ahead of the now deceased so as to make up for the moments when he had been sipping more.
“In a lighter moment, the now deceased indicated he would even sip more and tried to whisk away the bottle of beer from the applicant who was firmly gripping it with his right hand.
“As the applicant forcibly lifted the beer up towards his right side, he mistakenly hit the now deceased, who was on his right side and was also standing up from where he had been seated. As a result of that blow, the now deceased staggered backwards and fell onto the floor on his back.
“He then bled from the back of the head. Four days later, he succumbed to his injuries. The applicant would submit that he had no reason to assault, let alone want to kill the now deceased and would state that this was just an unfortunate incident that occurred in the midst of a beer-drinking session where the patrons were enjoying each other’s company. In the result, the applicant submits that he has made a compelling case for his release on bail pending trial,” submitted Mr Bvuma.
High Court Judge, Justice Sijabuliso Siziba, released Munawa on US$300 bail and ordered him not to interfere with witnesses, and to report once a fortnight at ZRP Mabvuku Police Station.
