Man (25) in ICU after beerhall brutally attack by gang

A BULAWAYO man is fighting for his life at Mpilo Central Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after he was brutally attacked by a gang of four men following a misunderstanding at a beer hall, a court heard yesterday.

Raymond Gavi, 23, Kheswa Mjijini, 26, Simbarashe Mazhata, 27, Xolani Sivako, 27, all of Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo appeared before magistrate Tancy Dube for assaulting Thomas Tawandwa, 25, of Mzilikazi suburb.

The four pleaded not guilty to assault charges and were remanded in custody to January 14 for commencement of trial.

Prosecuting, Stewart Madzore, told the court that on Monday at Mathonisa beer garden in Mpopoma suburb the accused persons entered the bar and started drinking beer.

As they were drinking, Tawandwa approached the gang and asked why they had beaten up his two friends identified only as Marvelous and Nhlanhla during the previous week.

"One of the accused then struck the complainant with a baseball on the right arm. All of the accused persons then surrounded the complainant and kicked him all over the body," said Madzore.

Tawandwa tried to escape but they caught up with him and continued to assault him.

"One of the accused persons stabbed the complainant on the left side of his breast and on the right side of the chest with a broken bottle," said the prosecutor.

Tawandwa, he said, is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at Mpilo Central Hospital.

Madzore said a medical report would be produced as an exhibit before the court.