Edwin Moyo
Bulawayo-A woman has been slapped with five years in jail for stabbing a colleague with a knife over clothes that fell from a washing line.
Jester Tshuma (39) of Emthunzini was yesterday arraigned before the Western Commonage Magistrate, Shepherd Munjanja for attempted murder after a dispute ensued between herself and Sithembile Dube (38) her neighbour.
Tshuma pleaded guilty, was charged for contravening Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], The Mid week can reveal.
According to the prosecution’s case, on the 19th of February 2024, at around 12:00 PM, an argument erupted between the accused and Dube regarding Tshuma’s clothes, which had fallen from the washing line.
This disagreement escalated into a heated altercation. Later that day, around 1:00 PM, Dube went to fetch water at a borehole, with Tshuma trailing behind her, demanding that Dube repeat her earlier statements. Dube, seeking to avoid further confrontation, requested Tshuma to leave her alone.
However, Tshuma persisted, advancing towards Dube and physically confronting her. It was at this point that Bigboy Nyathi intervened, attempting to separate the two.
In response, Tshuma drew a knife from her pocket and inflicted a single stab wound on Dube’s left side, causing a deep laceration and significant bleeding.
Tshuma however fled from the scene but was later arrested following a police manhunt.
Upon her subsequent appearance in court the accused was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for the charge of attempted murder as the court castigated the use of dangerous weapons in resolving disputes.
