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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who stabbed a peacemaker who had questioned why he was fighting a sex worker has been convicted of attempted murder.

Watson Sibanda, 19, from Kensington suburb armed himself with an okapi knife and stabbed Abraham Phiri who tried stopping the fight between him (Sibanda) and the sex worker.

Regional magistrate Mark Dzira convicted Sibanda of one count of attempted murder and will sentence him today.

In his defence Sibanda claimed the alleged sex worker Thenjiwe Sibanda took his shoe away and asked him to accompany her to Thorngrove after the bar closed.

“She approached me and asked for beer and I bought her and was surprised when she took one of my shoes and went away. We went to Thorngrove and I found a certain woman in Thenjiwe’s room who demanded that I pay $20 for services, an order which I didn’t obey,” he said.

“I told them I had no money and requested to be assisted to go home but the woman called people who assaulted me.”

Tinashe Dzipe for the State told the court that on October 10 last year at around 1AM , Sibanda hired Thenjiwe at a local bar and they proceeded to her home in Thorngrove.

“Thenjiwe and Sibanda then had a misunderstanding over the payment for sexual favours. Thenjiwe ordered Sibanda to leave her room but he refused and the two had a war of words,” said Dzipe.

“Phiri was awakened by the noise and went out of his room to check what was happening. Upon asking, Sibanda produced an okapi knife and stabbed him on the left side of the ribs under the armpit.”

The court heard that Phiri sustained a deep cut and was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he was admitted.

“Thenjiwe then helped police locate Sibanda who was arrested,” said Dzipe.