Sundaymail Editor
It is disturbing to see someone claiming to be a man of the cloth dragged before a court of law facing armed robbery charges.
Such was the case when a well-known self-proclaimed prophet from Masendu village in Madlambuzi, Plumtree, Matabeleland South province, was imprisoned for abusing his position of trust and authority for personal gain.
Mpindeni Ncube (44) was sentenced to an effective six-month jail term by Plumtree resident magistrate Joshua Nembaware for robbing someone of their US$50 cell phone at knifepoint.
Ncube, who pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery, was initially sentenced to 12 months in prison. However, six months of that sentence were suspended for five years on the condition that he does not commit any violent crime punishable by imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Ncube claimed to have recently prayed for someone in Botswana but was not paid for his services. Without enough money to return home, he robbed the victim. However, he only found a cellphone.
The State’s case, as presented by prosecutor Selestine Madziwa, was that on September 27, 2024, around 7pm, the complainant, Siyabulela Mabhena, was walking home from Ndiweni Business Centre when he encountered the accused. Armed with an okapi knife, the accused grabbed Mabhena from behind and pointed the knife at his throat.
Ncube demanded Mabhena’s cellphone, threatening to kill him if he refused.
The accused forcibly took the Samsung Grand Prime cellphone valued at US$50. He then ordered Mabhena to leave the area, which he did. Mabhena returned to Ndiweni Business Centre and informed the patrons, who then tracked down the accused.
The patrons apprehended Ncube in the Mzwanyana area and recovered the phone and okapi knife from his trouser pockets. Ncube was taken to the police, where he was charged with robbery. — Bulawayo Bureau
*******************
Plumtree man loses life in snooker game altercation
A Plumtree man has been sentenced to three years in prison for fatally stabbing a villager during a dispute over a snooker game.
Batsirai Kandai appeared before High Court Judge Evangelister Kabasa facing a murder charge.
However, the charge was reduced to culpable homicide. He pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defence after being kicked by the deceased, Kenos Ncube.
Kandai stated that Ncube had provoked him by taking his snooker stick and leaving the bar.
Kandai was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The court heard that on August 5, 2019, Kandai and Ncube were playing snooker at Dingumuzi Business Centre in Plumtree when the altercation occurred.
An argument erupted between the deceased and the accused over who would play the next game with an unidentified patron who had won the previous game.
The deceased claimed the right to play and took the snooker ball, but Kandai objected and teamed up with his friend, Bless Banda. Banda forcefully took the ball from the deceased and pushed Ncube to the ground.
Ncube got up, took the snooker ball and ran out of the bottle store.
The deceased then kicked Kandai in the stomach when he followed him and the pair exchanged heated words.
In the ensuing melee, Kandai stabbed Ncube in the chest.
Ncube staggered and fell by the side of the accused’s car.
Kandai lifted him and put him in his vehicle before rushing him to Plumtree District Hospital. However, Ncube died before reaching the medical facility.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Kandai’s arrest. — Bulawayo Bureau
*******************
Female goblin terrorises teachers
A suspected female goblin is said to be terrorising teachers at Kandana Primary School in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South province, with teachers threatening to leave the school if the issue is not addressed.
The school is located near the late Chief Kandana’s homestead.
The problem is believed to have started in June of the previous year, but was only reported to community leaders this term as the goblin continued its activities.
A source at the school said the goblin has been visiting the school at night and moving objects in the teachers’ houses.
“It comes at night and drops kitchen utensils. Sometimes we just hear movements as if it is someone walking.
“In some cottages, some teachers say they hear the sounds of someone cooking. Some of our colleagues have seen it in visions and they say it has a female body,” said one teacher.
Another teacher said while sleeping at night, the invisible creature sits on them and they feel a heavy load on their bodies.
The teacher said they have not reported any sexual attack but fear that could happen anytime.
“We suspect that it could be the same goblin that terrorised police officers at Gwambe Clinic because it attacked male officers sexually and those who see it in ‘visions’ here see a female one.
“If nothing is done, we will be forced to ask for transfers because we do not know what will happen next,” said the teacher.
The school is not very far from Gwambe Clinic, where police officers fled due to encounters with a “female goblin” that was having sex with them in their sleep.
A meeting was held by the community and it was decided to call for witch hunters to deal with the problem.
The community is mobilising money needed for the exorcism.
“We have been affected by a goblin problem that is troubling the teachers at Kandana Primary School and in the villages.
“We fear the school may be closed if the matter is not addressed. We appeal for financial help to address the problem,” said village head Edward Magutshwa.
Local councillor Ambassador Mabehdi Ngulani said he had heard about the issue but was yet to get details as he was away from the community. —B-Metro
*******************
Teacher rapes learner on camera
A former convict teacher from Njube suburb in Bulawayo landed himself in hot water after he allegedly sexually attacked his student and recorded an X-rated film while in the act.
The 65-year-old man is the owner of the house while the alleged nine-year-old victim is the tenant’s child. The man cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant. The man appeared in court before Western Commonage regional magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze charged with rape. He was not asked to plead.
The accused, who was a self-actor, was remanded in custody to October 16. The magistrate advised him to apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court.
The court learnt that last Sunday, at around 3pm, the accused called the victim and other children who reside at his house for extra lessons and assigned them a task. He left for his bedroom.
After a couple of minutes, he allegedly called the victim to bring the exercise books for marking. The nine-year-old collected the books and took them to his bedroom.
Upon getting into the bedroom, he told the minor to place the books on the table.
He instructed her to look for books on other subjects he had marked and put them inside a card box.
While the unsuspecting minor was looking for the books, he allegedly undressed and threatened to assault the her if she screamed.
He then ordered the minor to lie on the bed and carried out the sickening attack while he was recording. After that, he captured nude pictures of the victim and himself. He kept the raunchy video and nude pictures on his phone. The court heard that he allegedly forced her to watch the X-rated video and allegedly raped her again.
On the same day, in the evening, the minor informed her parents, who swiftly reported the incident at Njube Police Station, leading to the arrest of the 65-year-old man and recovery of the nude pictures and X-rated video.
The accused is not new to the courts.
In 2021 he fondled a minor’s breasts and private parts. For the offence, he was sentenced to serve 24 months in jail. The court suspended six months and he was caged for 18 months. — B-Metro
Online Reporter