Man stabbed for refusing to take off his belt

A 38-year-old man from Mapinga, Mashonaland West, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a 24-year-old co-worker over a dispute regarding a belt.

The incident occurred on October 24, 2024, at around 8 a.m., while Loyd Banda and the complainant were washing chrome ore at the Tramore farm site. According to reports, Banda asked the complainant to hand over his belt. However, the complainant refused, explaining that the belt belonged to his brother. Enraged by the refusal, Banda reportedly picked up a knife from the ground and stabbed the complainant in the stomach, leaving him with a deep wound.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) confirmed the charges in a statement on X, detailing the incident and noting that Banda had appeared before the Chinhoyi Magistrates' Court. "The accused person instructed the complainant to remove the belt he was wearing and hand it over to him so that he could wear it. The complainant refused, arguing that the belt belonged to his brother. This did not go down well with the accused, who picked a knife from the ground before stabbing the complainant once on the right side of his stomach," read part of the statement.

The complainant sustained a deep cut and was immediately treated, while Banda was arrested shortly after the incident. He has been remanded in custody until November 11, 2024, pending further court proceedings.