Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, [email protected]
A 42-year-old Bulawayo man has been sentenced to one month in prison for threatening to hurt a magistrate after expressing dissatisfaction with a sentence handed down to him in 2024.
Xolani Ndlovu of Emganwini suburb was convicted of assault by Western Commonage magistrate, Bethel Negato.
Ndlovu, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, was initially sentenced to two months in prison, of which one month was suspended for five years. The effective sentence is one month imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Ms Audrey Kufandikanwe told the court that sometime in October 2024, the accused person was convicted of unlawful entry by the complainant, Joshua Nembaware, at the Plumtree Magistrates Court.
The accused was sentenced to 36 months in prison, of which six months were suspended for five years, while another six months were suspended on condition that the accused restituted the complainant.
The effective prison term handed down by the complainant was 24 months. The court heard that on April 18, 2026 at around 5PM at Caravan Shops in Cowdray Park, the accused approached and demanded to know why Mr Nembaware had sentenced him to imprisonment, saying he was unhappy with how the case had been handled.
Upon questioning the complainant, the accused allegedly told him in Ndebele, “Ngizakulimaza, nxa ngingakulimazanga ngizakuthumela abantu bekulimaze,” meaning, “I will hurt you, and if I don’t, I will send people to hurt you,” said Ms Kufandikanwe. A police report was made, leading to the arrest of the accused person, she added.
