MARTIN MAWAYA
Violent Shurugwi artisanal miner, Pritchard Zhou (29), has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for attempted murder, while his accomplice Andrew Mapuwei (27) was found not guilty and acquitted.
The other suspect known as Handsome NFPK is still at large.
Zhou of Mkoba, Gweru was found guilty by Regional Magistrate Christopher Maturure after a full trial.
He will serve an effective 7 years in prison, after presiding magistrate suspended 2 years for 5 years.
Prosecutor Sibangani Dube, told the court that on June 24, 2024, at Vital mine , Wanderer in Shurugwi, Zhou stabbed Claude Gabriel a resident of village 6, Chironde in Shurugwi, on the right side of the neck and once on the right side of the head with an Okapi knife.
The blade of the knife broke and remained stuck in Gabriel’s head.
As a result of the attack, Gabriel sustained a deep cut wound on his neck, on the right side of his head, a wound on his forehead, and his left eye has gone blind.
The court heard that the altercation began when Zhou assaulted Gabriel’s girlfriend, Shamiso Madzivadondo, over an undisclosed issue.
When Gabriel tried to intervene, the court heard that Zhou became violent and stabbed him with the Okapi knife.
