The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A MAN from Binga, who 11 years ago allegedly went berserk and set ablaze his in-laws’ homestead while they were asleep, has appeared before a Hwange magistrate facing five counts of attempted murder.
Nelson Munkuli (34) of Sikalenge Village under Chief Sikangele allegedly lost it when his wife left him and returned to her parents’ home, prompting him to torch his father in-law’s homestead and destroy property. He denied the allegations when he appeared before regional magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube facing five counts of attempted murder and malicious damage to property charges.
“I deny the allegations and have no knowledge on what could have prompted the complainants to accuse me of trying to kill them by setting their huts on fire. On the day in question, I was not there but I was fishing with some friends. Besides no one set huts on fire and remains standing at the scene, it just does not make any sense,” he said.
Ncube also queried in court why the case had been delayed. Prosecutor, Mrs Charlene Gorerino told the court that the delay was caused by a number of factors that included failure by witnesses to attend trial and also to locate Munkuli.
“The case took long to be prosecuted due to the fact that at one point witnesses did not pitch up for the commencement of trial. At some instance accused could not be located and defaulted on his court appearance prompting a warrant of arrest to be issued. He was again released after State witnesses could not be located,” said Mrs Gorerino.
Munkuli was first arrested in August 2008 and placed on remand for seven months at Binga Prison before being transferred to Hwange where he spent a year awaiting trial. He was released in 2012 after State could not locate its witnesses and the case was going to proceed by way of summons.
However, when he was advised of a new trial date through the summons he absconded resulting in his re-arrest this year.
The court heard that on 7 August 2008 at about 1 am, Mr Phineas Kanyane Mudenda from Siamanzi village was sleeping in his bedroom hut with his wife, Mrs Salia Mudenda and daughter Ms Otilia Mudenda
Munkuli allegedly proceeded to the Mudenda homestead where his wife, Otilia had sought refuge following a quarrel and set fire to the bedroom hut in which the three family members were sleeping. Mr Mudenda heard footsteps outside and woke up to investigate leading to the shock discovery that his bedroom hut was on fire. He noticed Munkuli who was standing outside watching before he disappeared into the night in an attempt to evade identification. He quickly went back into the hut, woke up his wife and daughter before the hut was completely engulfed by fire resulting in the loss of property.
The following day at around 9pm, Munkuli went back to his father in-law’s homestead under the cover of darkness and set fire to another hut. He allegedly came back at around 11 pm and again set another hut on fire and property which included a plough, an ox yoke and various kitchen utensils were destroyed. A report was made to police leading to Munkuli’s arrest.
