Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, Court Writer
A 23-year-old Bulawayo woman has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after stabbing her neighbour with a pair of scissors during a heated dispute over a US$20 debt.
Thandeka Ndlovu, a resident of Sizinda suburb, was convicted of attempted murder by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga. She is set to serve an effective 26 months behind bars, as the court suspended 10 months of the sentence for five years on the condition that she does not commit a similar offence during that period.
The court, led by prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari, heard that on 16 November, the complainant, Agatha Chibuda, confronted Ndlovu at Connaught Heights Flats — located at the corner of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and Connaught Avenue — demanding the repayment of money owed to her.
The confrontation quickly spiralled into a violent altercation.
“The accused person armed herself with a broomstick and assaulted the complainant,” said Mr Mugari.
The court further heard that Ndlovu subsequently retreated to her room to arm herself with a pair of scissors. Returning to the scene, she launched a vicious attack on Chibuda.
“She stabbed the complainant twice, once on the right side of the neck and once on the chest. She also bit the complainant on the right hand,” the prosecutor stated.
Chibuda sustained serious injuries as a result of the assault. The matter was reported to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s immediate arrest.
In an unrelated case, a 19-year-old man from Insuza in Umguza District has been handed a 15-year jail term for the indecent assault of a 14-year-old girl.
Lovewell Mthethwa was convicted of aggravated indecent assault, as defined in Section 66(1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, also by regional magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga.
Prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari told the court that on 20 September at approximately 2:00 PM, the complainant was on her way to collect a notebook from a friend when she encountered Mthethwa. He lured her to his place of residence, where he detained her until the following day.
“After the accused person took the complainant to his home, he fondled her breasts and then thrust his fingers into her private parts without her consent,” said Mr Mugari.
The court heard that on the following day, Mthethwa sent an intermediary to the complainant’s house to ask for forgiveness on his behalf. The girl’s mother subsequently arrived to fetch her daughter. The incident was reported to the police, resulting in Mthethwa’s arrest.
