Man kills friend over joke

A 23-year-old squatter appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court facing allegations of killing his friend by setting alight his makeshift grass house, over a joke.

Ignatius Bomba, of Chimombe Squatter Camp in Marlborough, was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe who remanded him in custody to September 7.

Bomba allegedly set alight Simba Matsimo's hut while the latter was asleep inside and he was burnt beyond recognition.

Bomba appeared before Mahwe for the confirmation of his warned-and-cautioned statement and he told the court the witnesses linked him to the offence only because they had previously witnessed him having a misunderstanding with the now deceased.

Allegations are that on April 30 this year at around 7pm, Bomba and Matsimo were chatting and a misunderstanding arose when Bomba accused Matsimo of lying by telling other people that he (Bomba) was going around masquerading as an OK Supermarket employee when he was a scavenger.

Bomba and Matsimo allegedly parted ways and they all proceeded home but at around 8pm the same day Bomba proceeded to Matsimo's makeshift home and set it on fire, whilst his friend was fast asleep.

Matsimo is said to have failed to escape and was burnt beyond recognition.

The State alleges after setting alight Matsimo's makeshift home, Bomba is alleged to have gone to hide in a maize field nearby where he was seen by one Frank Pakuenda.
Peter Kachirika appeared for the State.