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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A MALAYITSHA who shot at police officers while fleeing arrest in Bulawayo was on Wednesday sentenced to an effective seven years in jail. Sibukani Mguni, 28, was convicted of attempted murder after he exchanged fire with three policemen who were on an assignment to recover an unlicensed firearm from him in February.

He told regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi that the police officers were framing him as punishment for a diamond deal that went sour in South Africa.

“This court finds you guilty of attempted murder and you are therefore sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Of the 10 years, three have been suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour,” said magistrate Nyathi.

In his defence, Mguni said he never possessed a firearm but police had shot him because he was involved in a botched diamond deal with a police officer only identified as Nkomo.

“In October last year I was approached by a police officer named Nkomo who told me he was in possession of diamonds that he wanted to sell. He asked me to facilitate a buyer since he knew I was closely associated with cross border taxi travellers,” he said.

“I then arranged for Nkomo and he went to South Africa with one of my friends and somehow he lost all his diamonds to a South African buyer without receiving any money. He started suspecting I had a hand in the botched deal as my friend who took him to South Africa had disappeared.”

Mguni alleged that he received a death threat from Nkomo and from that day avoided contact with him.

“In February I was having a braai with friends. I was seated inside a friend’s Toyota Quantum when I was approached by armed men in civilian attire who did not identify themselves. I ran for my life and was shot twice on my shoulder and as a result, I’m now disabled,” he said.

The state led by Masimba Saruwaka proved that on February 4 at 9AM, Constable Sibanda together with Mavunga Masiiwa and Allois Makau were tipped that Mguni was in possession of a firearm.

The three policemen booked a CZ pistol and proceeded to Tshabalala where Mguni stays but failed to locate him.

At about 11AM, they received information that Mguni was at Mneti Shopping Centre in Nkulumane and they spotted him sitting inside a Toyota Quantum and approached him.

When Mguni saw them he swiftly moved out of the vehicle, drew his pistol and cocked it.

Cst Sibanda fired a warning shot into the air and Mguni fired at him and missed.

The policemen returned fire and Mguni ran into a maize field. They fired and hit him on the upper shoulder and on the right forearm but Mguni kept running until he fell down at Nkulumane High School where he was arrested.