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A BULAWAYO woman was spared jail for biting off her neighbour’s finger while drunk after a dispute over who was supposed to pay R10-taxi fare.
Sithembinkosi Masuka (30) from Montgomery plots appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate facing an assault charge.
She was convicted on her own plea of guilty.
She, however, apologised for her wayward actions, saying she acted under the influence of alcohol.
“I am really sorry, your Worship. On the day in question, I was heavily drunk,” Masuka said in defence.
The magistrate slapped her with an eight-month jail term.
Four months were suspended on condition she does not commit any offence that involves violence in the next three months.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition she performs 140 hours of community service at the Fairbridge Police Station.
The court heard that on the day in question, Masuka and her drinking partner Wiseman Salmoh (31) were boozing at one of the drinking spots at the Montgomery plots.
The duo decided to go home at 11.30pm and boarded a Honda Fit taxi.
However, an argument broke out when it was time to pay.
Salmoh requested R10 for the fare from Masuka.
She, however, took this as an insult.
In a fit of rage, she rained blows on her drinking mate.
As if that was not enough, she bit his index finger and left it hanging.
Salmoh reported the incident to the police, leading to Masuka’s arrest. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Wife douses husband with petrol and sets him ablaze
A 42-year-old woman from Maphisa, Matabeleland South province, who is accused of killing her husband after allegedly dousing him with petrol before setting him alight following a dispute over infidelity, will soon know her fate.
Sindiso Ndlovu appeared before a Bulawayo High Court judge charged with murder.
She pleaded not guilty.
It is the State’s case that on October 19, 2019, around 9pm, Ndlovu and the deceased, Busani Ncube, were in their bedroom when a domestic dispute arose concerning the latter’s alleged infidelity.
Ndlovu reportedly locked the bedroom door while Ncube was lying on the bed.
She then allegedly doused the deceased with petrol and set him alight.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Ncube was taken to Maphisa District Hospital and later referred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
He died on January 8, 2020.
According to the post-mortem report, he succumbed to pneumonia and burns.
During trial, the deceased’s neighbour, Ndabezinhle Sibanda, testified that he was at the Maphisa Business Centre, drinking beer with other patrons when he heard news that Ncube was on fire in his room.
They rushed to the scene and found the deceased with burns on his neck and stomach.
Sibanda noticed a 25-litre container of petrol inside the house.
They then used a knife to remove Ncube’s burning clothes.
After extinguishing the flames with a blanket, they rushed him to hospital. — B-Metro
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Village head flees home after poisoning attempts
A village head from Matetsi in Matabeleland North province has deserted his home, claiming his former wife wants to kill him.
This comes after she allegedly poisoned him three times using a concoction mixed with bile from the gallbladder of a crocodile.
In most communities in Zimbabwe, it is widely believed the bile from the gallbladder of a crocodile is poisonous.
Shambani Mwakajileke, a traditional leader from Breakfast Village 2 in Matetsi, said he had abandoned his home as a result of attempts on his life by his former wife, Pejani Ncube, who allegedly wanted to kill him in order to claim their matrimonial property, such as the homestead and livestock.
The 51-year-old claimed he had sold his entire head of 12 cattle to get medical attention, including from traditional healers in Zambia.
“The first time she tried to kill me, my sister discovered some brownish powder tied in a piece of cloth that we think was bile from a gallbladder of a crocodile in our bedroom hut, which is very poisonous.
“A lot of people have been killed with that poison in our area and I am lucky to be alive,” said Mwakajileke.
“I spent weeks in hospital and she never bothered to visit me, and when I confronted her about the poison after I recovered, she apologised, claiming she had been driven by evil spirits to try and kill me. I forgave her, only for her to elope with a pastor from her church a few months later.”
The village head narrated how Ncube allegedly came back to his home twice in his absence and laced his food with poison. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Man dies in second suicide attempt
A 43-year-old man from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo reportedly committed suicide after being summoned to court following a dispute with his wife over infidelity.
The deceased, Bhekimpilo Mpofu, was found hanging from a roof truss in his house.
According to reports, the man had been summoned to court on May 20, 2024 in relation to a marital dispute.
On May 17, he came home drunk around 10pm and found their house help and children sleeping in the kitchen.
He enquired on the whereabouts of his wife but nobody seemed to know, and this angered him.
He attempted to hang himself but was rescued by the house help, who screamed and alerted neighbours.
After a while, the house help retired to bed and the man hanged himself.
The man’s wife returned home later that night and discovered that Ndlovu had hanged himself in the bedroom.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident
and urged the public to seek counselling to resolve marital disputes.
“We received a report of a man from Mzilikazi who committed suicide by hanging and we urge the public to resolve their differences by seeking counselling from the church, relatives and friends when they are faced with difficult situations,” he said — B-Metro
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