‘Xenophobic’attack: 2 get 210hrs community service

News
TWO men who attacked a reveller at a Bulawayo bar claiming to be launching xenophobic attacks have been slapped with 210 hours of community service after being convicted of public nuisance and assault.

TWO men who attacked a reveller at a Bulawayo bar claiming to be launching xenophobic attacks have been slapped with 210 hours of community service after being convicted of public nuisance and assault.

BY SILAS NKALA

Mongameli Ndlovu (19) and Mzingaye Dhlamini (28) of Kingsdale in Bulawayo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merilyn Mutshina.

They were charged with public nuisance and assaulting Thomas Garadza (30) of Queens Park, Bulawayo, during a beer drink at the Wise Waters Bar in Queens Park West.

Mutshina on Friday convicted and sentenced the two to 12 months in jail. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining months were suspended on condition that they performed 210 hours of community service at Queens Park Police Station. The developments came after the two called their defence witness Peter Joseph who defended them saying they did not assault anyone, but members of the Zimbabwe National Army who claimed they were sent by Zanu PF, did assault supporters of the opposition MDC-T.

Joseph said on the day there was a “Ladies’ Night” party at a local bar and soldiers arrived and started insulting people saying they had a right to do whatever they wanted because they were security forces. He said the soldiers were not in uniform and one of them was carrying a whip.

“One armed with a whip started beating people saying Zanu PF instructed them to whip MDC-T supporters,” Joseph said. “Accused one (Ndlovu) snatched the whip and went downstairs with it. We then took advantage to escape.”

He said the two were arrested by the police.

Prosecutor Danmore Kasenza told the court that on June 11 2015 at 11pm, Garadza was drinking beer at a local bar . He was allegedly dragged downstairs by Ndlovu and allegedly assaulted by Dhlamini using a whip all over the body. The two claimed to be launching xenophobic attacks. Garadza sustained injuries and was treated at a hospital where a medical report was compiled by a medical doctor.

A report made to the police led to the arrest of the two.