Neighbour kidnapped, savagely beaten in Umguza

A 30-YEAR-OLD MAN from Umguza in Matabeleland North province has appeared in court on charges of kidnapping and brutally assaulting his neighbour with an iron bar.

Mapenza Mudimba, who appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga, was charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of attempted  murder.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and the matter was adjourned.

Allegations are that on November 1, 2024, at Jajula Mine in Umguza, around 9am, Mudimba approached the complainant, Pumulani Mpofu, who is his neighbour and asked him why he had lied and told his girlfriend that he intended to stab her.

An argument ensued and the accused picked up a metal bar and hit the complainant on the head and repeatedly all over his body.

The accused then dragged his injured neighbour to his girlfriend’s house to question him in her presence.

Upon arrival, the accused allegedly picked up a cable and began assaulting the complainant all over his body.

Mpofu reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person. — Bulawayo Bureau

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Fracas over ‘bewitched’ underwear

A Plumtree man, Albert Moyo, who was accused of bewitching his wife by hiding her underwear, was sentenced to two years in prison, conditionally suspended, after assaulting her with an axe handle.

Magistrate Joshua Nembaware convicted Moyo of assault in a domestic violence case.

He will serve 420 hours of community service in lieu of the prison sentence.

The court heard that on March 1, Precious Ngulube (33), Moyo’s wife, accused him of hiding her underwear, which she believed was causing her prolonged bleeding.

An argument ensued, during which Moyo bit Ngulube on the left hand and then struck her multiple times on the body with an axe handle.

Selestine Madziwa prosecuted the case. — Bulawayo Bureau

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Man pelted neighbour’s house with stones during prayer

A 39-year-old man, Edmore Muleya, from Hwange in Matabeleland North province, was found guilty of malicious damage to property by a Hwange magistrate.

He was sentenced to 103 hours of community service.

The court heard that on January 26, 2025, at approximately 9pm, the victim, Siphathiwe Mathe, was praying in her house when she heard Muleya throwing stones at her residence. Muleya damaged 14 asbestos sheets, a grey deep freezer, a green bucket and a door.

The estimated value of the damage was US$614.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to Muleya’s arrest.

In a separate incident, also in Hwange, a man was sentenced to 10 months in prison after assaulting his neighbour with a wooden stick.

The assault stemmed from an accusation that the neighbour had stolen money from the man’s phone pouch.

The victim sustained a fractured left wrist and a cut on his left eyebrow, and was taken to St Patrick’s Hospital. — Bulawayo Bureau