The Sunday News
Lungile Tshuma Sunday News Correspondent
WHILE drinking and driving is dangerous, coming home drunk is equally risky and dangerous. Ephraim Ncube of Matsheumhlophe in Bulawayo will never return home drunk after his 21-year-old wife pinned him down and used an iron rod to strike him on the head for coming home late. He has remained in a coma for close to two weeks. This was heard when Silethiwe Ndlovu of 73 Dlamini Township in Matsheumhlophe appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sithembile Ncube facing charges of contravening Section 189 as read with Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, attempted murder.
It is the State’s case that on 18 August this year, Ndlovu’s husband came home late after drinking the wise waters.
This did not go down well with Ndlovu who reportedly asked Ncube why he had developed a tendency of coming home drunk.
The court head that Ncube tried to explain but the response was not satisfactory to the wife who allegedly pinned him down before hitting him on the head until he collapsed.
When he fell unconscious, Ndlovu reportedly panicked and called residents to assist her in resuscitating her husband whom she thought had died.
An ambulance was immediately called and rushed the badly injured Ncube to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he remains in a coma.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Tatenda Nyamayaro, Ndlovu confessed to beating her husband to residents and the State is prepared to bring its witnesses when the case resumes.
Ndlovu, who was chewing gum before the magistrate, pleaded guilty and begged the court to immediately make a ruling.
“There is nothing I can say regarding this matter. My wish is to get over this matter. I just want to know my fate today,” she said.
After the plea, Ndlovu did not contest the magistrate’s decision to remand her in custody.
The magistrate said the matter could not continue because Ncube was still unconscious at the hospital.
Ndlovu will re-appear in court on 8 September.
