Chronicle (Zimbabwe)

Two stabbed, axed in gold rush

- Mashudu Netsianda Lisa Mangena

AN illegal gold panner from Plumtree ganged up with his accomplice­s and allegedly axed their two rivals before stabbing them with a knife following a dispute over gold nuggets.

This emerged when Patson Ncube (31) of Mphoengs approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking bail pending trial, citing the State as a respondent.

Ncube allegedly teamed up with his accomplice­s who are still at large and axed Collet Moyo once on the head.

They then allegedly turned on his friend Bongani Sibanda and stabbed him with a knife and struck him with an axe.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa granted Ncube bail of $100 and ordered him to reside at his given address in Nketa 6 suburb until the matter is finalised as part of the bail conditions.

Ncube was also ordered to report once a fortnight at Nkulumane Police Station as well as not interfere with State witnesses.

According to State papers, it is alleged that during the month of January this year, Ncube and the complainan­ts went to Mphoengs 19B Mine to join a gold rush.

On January 13, the accused persons received informatio­n that Moyo had picked an undisclose­d amount of gold nuggets. He then pursued him at a place known as Makokoba in Makubu Village in Mphoengs area and found him having lunch in the company of his friends Israel Dladla and Bongani Sibanda.

Ncube confronted Moyo and demanded the gold and the complainan­t refused to hand it over. Ncube and his accomplice­s drove away in their car.

On the following day at around 5PM, Ncube and his accomplice­s returned to Makokoba Business Centre and spotted Moyo with his two friends and they charged towards them wielding axes, machetes, knives and catapults.

Sensing danger, Moyo and his friends boarded a Honda Fit and drove away. Ncube and his accomplice­s followed the Honda Fit and caught up with the complainan­ts.

The accused person hit Moyo once on the head with an axe and his accomplice­s, who are still at large, joined in attacking the complainan­t resulting in him sustaining head injuries.

The accused person turned on Sibanda and stabbed him with a knife on the back as he was trying to escape. They also struck him with an axe on the head and he sustained injuries.

The two complainan­ts were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital.

A report was made to the police leading to Ncube’s arrest.

Ncube, through his lawyer Mr Reliance Ndou of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, is denying the allegation­s, arguing that the complainan­ts and their gang stole a Honda Fit belonging to his friend Bukhosi Ncube.

“Bukhosi enlisted my help in giving chase to the complainan­ts who had stolen his car. We caught up with them and blocked the road and that is when angry villagers came and indiscrimi­nately attacked the complainan­ts. We then took the complainan­ts to the police station and reported the matter. We did not participat­e in the attack,” said Ncube.—@mashnets A 28-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulawayo has been arrested for insulting her lover’s wife after she confronted her about their affair.

Lesley Ngwenya of Nkulumane suburb insulted Ms Sazini Moyo (36) by sending her an obscene message telling her that she was a dog.

Ngwenya told Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube that Ms Moyo had pushed her to the edge and thus she sent a message so that she could leave her alone.

“While we were texting each other, Ms Moyo said things that angered me and I lost my temper,” she said.

Ngwenya pleaded guilty to a charge of sending abusive messages through the phone and was ordered to go for community service assessment.

The court heard that Ngwenya has an eightmonth-old child with Ms Moyo’s husband.

The prosecutor Mr Kenneth Shava said on January 9, Ms Moyo texted Ngwenya asking her if she was having an affair with her husband.

“The two exchanged text messages until Ngwenya lost her temper and insulted Ms Moyo. She told her to get out of her business and that she was a useless dog,” said Mr Shava.

Ms Moyo reported the matter to the police leading to Ngwenya’s arrest. — @ LissahMang­ena.

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