Man jailed for machete attack on police officer

A 28-year-old man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison after assaulting a police officer with a machete during an altercation at a bottle store.

Blessing Makwanhla, of Mzilikazi suburb, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mkandla facing a charge of assault as defined under Section 89(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

He was convicted for assaulting Simon Ziyadinga, a police officer employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and stationed at Zimbabwe Republic Police Donnington.

In sentencing Makwanhla, the magistrate noted that the accused had used a prohibited weapon during the attack.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with six months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving an effective 12-month jail term.

Prosecutor Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that the incident occurred on April 3 at around 9:15PM at SD Bottle Store in Machipsini, Mzilikazi.

According to the State, the complainant was buying beer when Makwanhla entered the premises and smashed two empty bottles.

"The accused then entered and broke two empty bottles. The complainant tried to calm him down, as he was already violent, but this did not go well with him. The accused then went outside," Mutapi told the court.

The court heard that Makwanhla later returned armed with a machete and struck the complainant once on the left palm, causing a cut injury.

A police report was subsequently made, leading to Makwanhla's arrest. The injured officer was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical examination and treatment.