adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 70-YEAR-OLD village head from Mangwe District has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly axed his neighbour on the head. Khali Enock Ncube of Mkhaya Village allegedly axed Limukaniswe Mpofu, 34, for restraining him from assaulting two teenage boys who wanted to beat up his niece for double crossing them.
Mpofu found his village head quarrelling with two boys, Sabani Mpofu and Mthulisi Nkomo. The accused was holding an axe in his hand and was threatening to attack the two boys with it.
Mpofu then disarmed Ncube and took the axe with him in order to stop him from harming the boys.
He went to Ncube’s homestead on the following day intending to give him back his axe.
A hostile Ncube turned on Mpofu for intervening in his quarrel with the two boys. Ncube allegedly took another axe and struck Mpofu on the head.
Mpofu managed to grab the axe from Ncube and fled from the homestead.
Ncube appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa on initial remand facing attempted murder charges.
He was remanded in custody to December 19.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Ncube axed Mpofu on November 21 around 6AM.
He said Ncube’s niece Nkazimulo Sola was seen by her boyfriend while in the company of another lover. The two teenagers accused Sola of double-crossing them and they also threatened to beat her up.
Shawarira said Sola’s siblings who were accompanying their sister and her lover when the commotion started reported the matter to their uncle who is the area’s village head.
Ncube then armed himself with an axe and confronted the two teenage boys with the intention of “disciplining” them with the weapon.
“The complainant who was passing by intervened and managed to stop the quarrel and disarm Ncube. On the following day he proceeded to Ncube’s homestead with the intention of returning the axe.
“Ncube who was pissed off by the proceedings of the previous day lashed out at the complainant for disarming him while he wanted to discipline the two teenage boys,” said Shawarira.
He said Mpofu was taken to a nearby clinic and was later referred to Plumtree District Hospital for treatment. The matter was reported to police in Empandeni who arrested Ncube at his homestead.
Shawarira said the village head’s actions could have resulted in the death of the complainant.
Online Reporter