Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
TWO Victoria Falls twin brothers who teamed up with their friends and fatally assaulted a rival over a suspected sex worker have been jailed.
Mbonisi Ncube and Bonginkosi Ncube both aged 19, were slapped with a five-year jail term after the court took into consideration that they had since turned 18.
Two years of their respective sentences were conditionally suspended for five years while their co-accused Langton Dube (22) and Moses Ncube (23) were convicted of culpable homicide by Hwange regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira. They were sentenced to a nine-year jail term of which two years were also conditionally suspended for five years.
The quartet indiscriminately assaulted Canaan Ncube (42) all over the body, accusing him of taking away their night’s catch before leaving him for dead. The quartet, who were initially facing a murder charge, offered a limited plea of guilty to culpable homicide. According to a statement of agreed facts between the State led by Ms Erica Makanza and defence counsel, Miss Rachel Mudenda of Muvhiringi and Associates, it was stated that on November 8, 2022, Ncube went to Chinotimba suburb to sell chicken cuts.
At around 9.30pm while in Chinotimba, Ncube decided to go to KoMpofu Sports Bar to drink beer. It was during that time that the four approached him and escorted him outside the bar. While outside the quartet started accusing Ncube of snatching their girlfriend. They went on to punch the deceased with fists, clenched fists, and kicked him several times on the head and body.
Caleb Sibanda, a police constable who observed the accused persons assaulting the deceased rushed to his rescue and the four fled the scene. The deceased was referred to Victoria Falls Hospital where he was attended to and discharged. However, the following day at around 7.48 am while on his way home, the deceased fell unconscious on the roadside.
A passerby discovered Ncube and rushed him to Victoria Falls Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries upon readmission. On November 14, 2022, unaware of his fate, Ncube’s wife and brother made a missing person report to police in Victoria Falls. The following day, Ncube’s brother was informed by a security guard manning Victoria Falls Hospital that the missing person could be the body of an unidentified male in the mortuary.
He went to the mortuary and managed to positively identify the deceased as his brother. On November 17, the deceased’s body was ferried to UBH for postmortem.
Online Reporter