Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Two Mwenezana Estate employees hired by a 30-year-old man to transport his scotch cart to Chingwizi turned against him along the way; severely assaulting him and leaving him unconscious before stealing his scotch cart, it has been heard.
Appearing before Mwenezi magistrate Honest Musiiwa, Bernard Makado (35) and Energy Nyamakonde (22), who are both employed at the sugar estate, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and theft.
They were remanded out of custody to April 09 for continuation of trial.
The complainant, Kudzai Rufugokuda of Village 3 Mangondi under Chief Chitanga, said the two accused persons left him for dead and he only regained consciousness after being admitted at Neshuro District Hospital.
Prosecutor Angelinah Makonya alleged that on September 22, 2017, at around 01:00 hrs, Rufugokuda hired Makado’s truck to carry his scotch cart to Chingwizi intending to deliver it to Dumela village head.
On the following day, Makado engaged his workmate Nyamakonde and the two accompanied Rufugokuda to Chingwizi but along the way, they got lost many times as the complainant was not well-conversant with the route.
This led to a misunderstanding between Rufugokuda and Makado who then stoped the truck and forced the former out of the vehicle.
They allegedly began assaulting him with open hands and booted feet all over his body before leaving him unconscious in the bush.
The two accused drove their truck and later left Rufugokuda’s scotch cart at a homestead in Kayalami village under Chief Maranda.
The unconscious Rufugokuda was later picked by passers-by who alerted the police leading to the arrest of the suspects.
As a result of the assault, Rufugokuda suffered some head injuries and was referred to Neshuro District Hospital from where he was transferred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital and later on to Parerenyatwa Group of Hospitals.Court.
