Headman loses betting, nearly kills subject

Headman Jimson Manyumbu of Chivi recently became involved in a violent altercation at a local shopping center, where he allegedly smashed a beer bottle into the face of Fredreck Mudhe, a fellow patron, following a dispute over money after a pool game. The attack, which left Mudhe with severe facial injuries, occurred on the evening of November 21, around 8pm.

Mudhe, recounting the incident, explained that he and Manyumbu had been playing pool together when the dispute began. The headman, after losing the game multiple times, produced a US$100 note intending to buy beer. He asked Mudhe to exchange the note for smaller denominations, and Mudhe provided him with US$20 for the beer purchase. Mudhe then used the remaining US$100 to buy a six-pack of beer, which he planned to take to a funeral.

However, tensions flared when Manyumbu allegedly snatched the change from the shopkeeper, claiming it as his own despite Mudhe's US$20 still being in play. The confrontation escalated when Mudhe demanded his money back. He later went outside to calm down, only for Manyumbu to follow and apologize. But things took a violent turn when Mudhe was making a phone call, and Manyumbu suddenly smashed a beer bottle into Mudhe's face, causing him to collapse. Mudhe had to crawl under a vehicle for safety as bystanders fled the scene, fearing for his life.

Mudhe was quickly helped by onlookers who restrained Manyumbu and rushed him to a nearby clinic. Due to a lack of medication at the clinic, a relative had to go to Chibi Growth Point to fetch the necessary treatment.

In response to the allegations, Manyumbu confirmed the altercation but insisted that the incident was an act of self-defense. He claimed that Mudhe had attacked him first during the dispute over the US$100, when Mudhe allegedly tried to snatch the money from the cashier. Manyumbu said he managed to dodge the beer bottle thrown by Mudhe and retaliated in self-defense. He also denied that he had asked Mudhe for any money and dismissed the claim that he had used a beer bottle to attack Mudhe.

"I had to hold him tightly before he let go of the money. When he tried to hit me with the bottle, I dodged it, and that's when I retaliated. It was purely self-defense," Manyumbu told the press. He also added that he reported the incident to Mashava police.

The dispute between the two men, fueled by a financial misunderstanding, has now escalated into legal matters, with police investigating the attack. Manyumbu's defense of self-defense and Mudhe's claim of an unprovoked attack highlight the complex nature of the incident. The outcome of this case will likely depend on further investigations and testimonies from witnesses.