Teenager shot for straying into plot

A 17-year-old boy from Luveve, Bulawayo is lucky to be alive after he was shot once on the right thigh after being mistaken for a thief by a resident of Rangemore who saw him in his yard in the wee hours of Christmas Day.

Mthokozisi Ndlovu was shot by Norman Ngwenya (66).

Ngwenya appeared before West Commonage magistrate Mr Abednigo Ndebele on Wednesday charged with attempted murder. Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on 24 December 2015 Ndlovu had gone to visit his friend Nkosilathi Ndebele aka Kiwa who had invited him to spend the Christmas Day with him at his parents' house in Rangemore.

"At around 6pm Mthokozisi went to Rangemore with Ndebele. After some time they left Ndebele's house and went for a beer drink at Manyonga Sports Bar. At around 1am on 25 December 2015 the two together with Ndebele's girlfriend decided to go back home. Along the way a misunderstanding arose between Ndebele and his girlfriend resulting in Ndlovu leaving them behind," said Mr Mageza.

It is alleged that Ngwenya was sleeping at his house in Rangemore but woke up at around 2 am when he heard his dogs barking continuously outside.

"Ngwenya saw someone opening the gate and walking towards another separate hut in that compound and asked who he was. Ndlovu replied and told him his name, his friend's name and that he had come home to sleep. Ngwenya told him that there was no one called Kiwa in his homestead. When Ndlovu realised that he was lost he quickly asked to be directed at Plot 10 Rangemore where his friend resides," Mr Mageza told the court.

The court heard that despite pleading that he was lost and seeking for directions to his friend's place, Ngwenya insisted that he was a thief and had come to his home to steal.

"Ngwenya held Ndlovu and then shot him once on the right thigh with a CZ pistol. The case was reported to the police and Ndlovu was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment," said Mr Mageza. Ngwenya was remanded in custody to 28 January.

In another incident, a 26-year-old man from Entumbane was hit once on the head with an iron bar for allegedly greeting his neighbour's girlfriend. Thembelani Ncube (26) was hit on the head with an iron bar by Reason Ncube (21) resulting in him sustaining a deep cut. Thembelani was also assaulted for asking Reason why he was holding an iron bar.

Reason appeared before West Commonage magistrate Mr Ndebele and was charged with attempted murder.

Thembelani later withdrew charges stating that he had not fought with Reason and that the assault was an accident.

"I withdrew charges against Reason because we were not fighting and the assault was just an accident. He is also my relative and I am no longer angry at him. The case is being withdrawn with my consent and no one influenced me to do so," he said.