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Edmore Sibanda

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
ECCENTRIC former Highlanders goalkeeper, Edmore Sibanda has been arrested for allegedly fatally assaulting a man over a woman in 2006.

Sibanda, popularly known as MaMkhwebu during his heydays with the Bulawayo giants, appeared in court yesterday facing a murder charge.

Prosecuting, Nkathazo Dlodlo told the court that on August 19, 2006, Sibanda teamed up with two others who are still at large and assaulted a man leading to his death.

“Sibanda in the company of Andrew and Shelton Magutshwe pummelled Wesley Tawanda Nyamupungidze with empty bottles. They punched and kicked him all over the body in a fight over a woman,” said Dlodlo.

The man later died.

Sibanda through his lawyer, Byron Sengweni applied for $100 bail.

“Your worship, my client isn’t a flight risk. I don’t know why police say he had been on the run because he has been coaching Hwange juniors and never ran away as alleged by the police,” said Sengweni.

He said the State case against his client was weak as it had failed to charge a driver who ran over Nyamupungidze leading to his death.

“Your worship, the deceased was hit by a car as he was trying to flee some people whom he was fighting with. A case of culpable homicide was opened against the driver and the State failed to prove its case and it was dropped. After failing to charge the driver, they decided to open a murder case against my client,” said Sengweni.

Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya remanded Sibanda in custody to today for bail application ruling.

Sibanda is among the notable Bosso stars having played for the Bulawayo giants between 1999 and 2004.

The eccentric ex-goalkeeper was a crowd favourite, combining clowning antics with sublime reflexes.

He is an assistant coach at Hwange Juniors.