Nkosentsha Khumalo
An altercation among neighbours in Fort Rixon’s Fourgate Business Centre, rapidly escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting to a Zimbabwe National Army soldier discharging an AK 47 rifle and injuring one of the individuals involved.
The incident, which began as a disagreement among drinkers, quickly spiraled out of control when the soldier allegedly attempted to intimidate the other parties with his weapon.
It is said that the ZNA soldier from Fort Rixon allegedly fired warning shots at his neighbour and shot him in the leg with an AK 47 rifle after reportedly terrorizing other neighbours late into the night using the gun.
The event culminated in the suspect being arrested and charged with attempted murder, following an investigation by local police.
Masilinge Right Mula (36), a ZNA soldier deployed and residing at General Dube’s farm in Fort Rixon, denied the attempted murder allegations when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Dambudzo Malunga.
Mula was subsequently convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for the charges brought against him. Two years were however, suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour and that he is a first time offender.
According to the prosecution, on an unspecified date in October 2020, at around 6pm, Mncedisi Mpofu, Melot Moyo, Abednico Ndlovu, and Charles Dungeni were consuming calabash opaque beer at Fourgate Business Centre in Fort Rixon.
Perfect and Zenzo engaged in a conflict with Njabulo Mpofu over a dispute in which the two desired to physically assault Njabulo.
Njabulo sought refuge with Mncedisi to avoid further confrontation.
In an attempt to mediate the situation, Mncedisi engaged Perfect and Zenzo to de-escalate the conflict.
However, Mula appeared and directed Mncedisi to leave his younger brother, Perfect, alone, emphasizing that he had gone too far.
According to the State, Mula allegedly threatened to engage in a physical altercation with Mncedisi for intervening in the altercation between Perfect and Njabulo.
On the same day, at around 7pm, Mula and Perfect proceeded to the residence of the Mpofu brothers and reportedly assaulted Sobantu, hitting him with a log on his back after attempting to break into his bedroom.
Sobantu then went into the house to retrieve his axe and pursued the two assailants. Mula shouted from a distance, proclaiming that he would return with a gun.
The situation took a more dire turn when Mula returned to the scene of the altercation, alone, at approximately 11:30 pm.
Armed with his AK 47 riffle, loaded with a ten-round magazine, Mula demanded that the occupants of the house emerge, threatening to shoot the house from the outside if they failed to comply with his demands.
Awakened by Mula’s threats, the two brothers emerged from the house and approached Mula to plead for forgiveness.
In the ensuing chaos, Mncedisi, sensing the gravity of the situation, leapt toward Mula and grabbed the barrel of the rifle. A struggle ensued and Mula fired cartridges, striking Mncedisi in the left leg.
In his attempt to disarm Mula, Mncedisi suffered severe burns on his hands from the heat of the rifle barrel.
The altercation further resulted in a cut on his left foot and a swollen right hand. With the magazine of his rifle depleted, Mula fled the scene.
Upon the report of this incident to the Mbembesi Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the authorities apprehended Mula.
The prosecution successfully proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in Mula being found guilty of attempted murder by Magistrate Dambudzo Malunga.
As a consequence, Mula was sentenced to five years in prison.
Zim GBC News ©2024