Nurse guilty of beer bottle assault in Bulawayo

A nurse from Bulawayo has been convicted of assault after a violent altercation at a popular leisure spot in Tshabalala left a man injured after being stabbed with a broken beer bottle.

The accused, Tendai Junior Visendi of Nketa suburb, was initially charged with attempted murder but was found guilty of assault under Section 89(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on 4 April 2026 at a venue in Tshabalala, where the complainant, Tendai Gwaze, was sitting in a car with friends when a confrontation escalated. Visendi allegedly struck him with a beer bottle, which shattered, before stabbing him with the broken glass.

Western Commonage Regional Magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure ruled that although the State failed to prove intent to kill, it successfully proved intent to cause serious bodily harm. The court rejected the self-defence argument, noting that the weapon used was disproportionate to the circumstances.

Visendi was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment, with part of the sentence suspended. He will instead perform 525 hours of community service at Nkulumane High School.

The magistrate emphasised that assault cases involving weapons in public places are on the rise and warned that such conduct undermines public safety and order.