Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected].
TWO men from Nhwali Village in Gwanda District have appeared in court facing a murder charge for allegedly beating a fellow villager to death over missing money.
Mbongeni Moyo (28) and Methembe Ncube (32) appeared before Gwanda magistrate Ms Brenda Kachepa, who remanded them in custody to November 9 for routine remand pending trial.
The pair were not asked to plead and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecuting, Ms Rest Mguni told the court that the accused allegedly attacked the deceased, Khumbulani Ncube, on September 10 after accusing him of stealing money from Moyo’s wallet.
The court heard that the incident occurred at about 8PM at Mabala Business Centre, where the accused allegedly joined the deceased and other men who were drinking.
Ms Mguni said Moyo later went to the toilet, leaving his wallet on a chair next to where
Khumbulani Ncube was seated.
When he returned, Moyo allegedly checked his wallet, discovered that some money was
missing and accused Ncube of taking it. Ncube denied touching the wallet, triggering an
altercation that escalated into a fight.
The prosecutor said the two accused allegedly joined forces and assaulted Ncube with
bricks and stones before other patrons intervened and stopped the fight.
At about 10PM, Ncube left the business centre and headed home.
“The accused persons followed him and attacked him. They kicked and punched him and
also assaulted him with bricks and Ncube called for help and other patrons rushed to his
aid,” Ms Mguni told the court.
The accused allegedly fled, leaving Ncube lying on the ground.
He was initially taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital before being referred to United
Bulawayo Hospitals for further treatment. However, his condition deteriorated and he died
the following day.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to investigations and the subsequent arrest of the two accused.
