Man survives shovel 'attack'

A 50-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo escaped death after he was allegedly attacked by his workmate with a shovel.

A court heard that Mlungisi Moyo (24), an employee at Greenland Farm in Hope Fountain, struck his workmate, Mr Bhamos Tshuma, with a shovel on his ribs after they had a misunderstanding about seniority at work.

Moyo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi facing attempted murder charges yesterday.

Mr Mkhwananzi remanded him in custody to December 21. He advised him to apply for bail at the High court or to seek the consent of the National Prosecuting Authority to be granted bail.

Prosecuting, Miss Loveness Ngwenya said Moyo assaulted his workmate after he accused Mr Tshuma of acting superior.

"On November 26 the complainant was at his house at the farm and the accused approached him saying he should not rule the farm. A misunderstanding arose between the two and the accused took a shovel and assaulted the complainant on the left side ribs," said Miss Ngwenya.

The prosecutor said a medical report showed that Mr Tshuma sustained serious injuries on his ribs.