mbulelo smpofu
Mashudu Mambo
A peacemaker from Beitbridge was brutally killed after intervening in a dispute between his friend and his rival.
This was heard when Benson Ndlovu was arraigned before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Naison Chivayo, facing a charge of murder.
He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after trial. He was slapped with an effective 15-year jail sentence.
During the trial, one of the witnesses, Ellen Geja, said the deceased, Tapiwa Mupfukireyi, was killed after intervening in a misunderstanding between his friend and the accused.
“Ndlovu had a misunderstanding with Langton Ncube after Ndlovu had kicked the wood at a fireplace.
“The deceased tried to restrain the accused from insulting Ncube, but that did not go down well with the accused who slapped the deceased once on the cheek with an open hand.
“He then picked up two cement bricks and struck the victim with one of them on the forehead. He fell to the ground and became unconscious. He later died at the hospital while receiving treatment,” she said.
The court heard that on 30 July 2021, at around 11pm, Ndlovu arrived at a house in Garikai suburb in the company of his friend Benson Nyamutowa.
The duo found Ncube, the now deceased, Rosemary Moyo, Christine Munjoma, and Geja warming themselves by the fire and joined them.
After a few minutes, the accused’s friend, Nyamutowa, advised Ndlovu that it was time for them to go to their homes, and he left.
Ndlovu remained at the house and started shouting, saying he was being disrespected by the people at the house and proceeded to kick the firewood.
Realising that Ndlovu was angry, Ncube inquired about the accused’s behaviour, and he insulted him. The now deceased joined in and ordered Ndlovu to stop his violent behaviour, leading to a scuffle.
This is when Ndlovu indicated that he was after the now deceased and went on to slap him on the cheek. He picked up two cement bricks and struck the victim with one of them on the forehead. He fell to the ground and became unconscious.
The matter was reported to the police, and the victim was rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital, where he passed on while receiving treatment.
