MASVINGO — A Zaka man who fatally stabbed his colleague following a brawl over $20 has been sentenced to an effective 18-year jail term by High Court judge Justice Francis Bere.
By Tatenda Chitagu
Naboth Macheke, originally from Neganda village under Chief Zaka in Bikita, was convicted and sentenced on his own plea of guilty to killing Tachawanda Chiminya in October 2013.
Prosecuting, Elison Chabarika told the court that on the fateful morning, Chiminya, a builder, went to Hillside residential stands and entered a room where Macheke and four other colleagues were sleeping.
The court heard that Macheke then accused Chiminya of stealing his money the previous night, leading to a heated argument. The two later went out where Macheke produced a knife and stabbed Chiminya once in the left ear.
Chiminya collapsed and was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where he was treated of the wounds and discharged the same day. Macheke fled the scene and skipped into neighbouring South Africa. Chiminya was readmitted into hospital the following day when his condition deteriorated and later died.
Two months later, Macheke called his father while in South Africa to check on the condition of his friend and he was told that he had died.
Macheke surrendered himself to the police in South Africa who helped repatriate him home to face trial.
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In mitigation, Macheke, who was represented by Collin Maboke of Maboke, Ruvengo and company, said Chiminya had stolen his money while he was asleep and he averred that he had no intention to kill his friend.
Justice Bere commended Macheke for handing over himself to the South African police to be deported so as to face trial in Zimbabwe.
Bere said Macheke had shown remorse, but again insisted that being remorseful alone was no defence.
