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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A MAN from Bulilima District allegedly struck his 65-year-old brother twice on the head with an axe and cut off his tongue as the siblings fought for the control of four head of cattle belonging to their late parents.

Akim Dube, 54, of Madlambuzi area, is alleged to have previously hired a neighbour to poison his brother, Lazarus Dube but failed.

He reportedly became jealous after his parents left the four beasts under the care of their eldest son, Lazarus.

Akim allegedly armed himself with a small axe and followed his brother who was on his way to work. He struck his brother twice on the head and chopped off his lower lip and cut off part of his tongue.

Akim appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa facing attempted murder charges. He was remanded in custody to January 16 and was not asked to plead as it was his initial appearance.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said on December 29, Akim waylaid his brother while he was on his way to Masendu Primary School where he is employed as a security guard.

He said Lazarus left his homestead around 6PM carrying an axe and proceeded to a neighbour’s homestead where he remained until 7PM before proceeding to the school.

Shawarira told the court that the accused person did not disclose where he was heading.

He said Akim later met the complainant who was on his way to work in a bushy area around 7PM and struck him twice on the head with an axe and once on the lower jaw cavity.

The accused person then fled from the scene and left his brother lying unconscious on the ground.

Akim proceeded to Thekwane River where he washed his clothes and cleaned the axe to remove his sibling’s bloodstains.

He was, however, spotted by his neighbours washing his clothes.

Shawarira said on the following morning the complainant was found by villagers lying on the same spot where he had been left by his brother.

He said they assisted Lazarus and took him to Madlambuzi Police Station where he was later referred to Mpilo Hospital.

“They however, failed to establish what had transpired as the complainant was unable to speak as his tongue and jaw had been chopped,” said Shawarira.

Police carried investigations and later discovered that the accused person was spotted at the river washing some blood stains off his clothes.

They proceeded to Akim’s homestead where they arrested him and recovered a small axe which he is suspected to have used to commit the offence.

The court also heard that Dube allegedly approached his neighbour early last year soon after the death of his parents and asked him to poison the complainant in exchange for a beast.

The neighbour, however, refused and informed Lazarus of his young brother’s intentions to have him killed.

Shawarira said Akim had publicly made several threats to harm his brother if he did not surrender the beasts to him.