MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Two men from Kurimakwakanaka Village under Chief Gambiza in Gweru have escaped an effective jail term after they were convicted of assaulting a villager who later died from injuries sustained during the attack.
Ryan Muzona (20) and Nkululeko Zvamaziva (40) were ordered to perform community service at Gambiza Primary School starting March 18.
Gweru Regional Magistrate Sibongile Marondedze initially sentenced the pair to 24 months in prison each.
However, 12 months were suspended for five years.
The remaining 12 months were wholly suspended on condition that each of them completes 420 hours of community service.
In passing sentence, Marondedze also took into account that the two had spent nearly three years in pre-trial incarceration.
The conviction stems from a brutal attack on Emmanuel Vimbelela in March 2023.
The court heard that on March 23 at around 2am, Vimbelela was drinking beer at Maguma Business Centre when the two accused, in the company of another accomplice who is still at large, confronted him.
They allegedly dragged Vimbelela from the business centre along the Gambiza Travellers Rest Road before striking him with sticks and repeatedly kicking him with booted feet.
A nearby villager who was awakened by the commotion witnessed the assault before the attackers dumped the victim by the roadside.
The villager later found Vimbelela lying unconscious and alerted the police.
Vimbelela was rushed to St Patrick’s Mission Clinic before being transferred to Gweru Provincial Hospital and later to Mpilo Central Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on May 8, 2023.
A post-mortem revealed that he died from head injuries, trauma and a respiratory infection linked to the assault.
Sibangani Dube prosecuted.
