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Patient Sibanda Chronicle Reporter
A TSHOLOTSHO man is battling for life in hospital after an injiva axed him in the head in a fight over $1. Michael Ngwenya, a herdsman from Malanda Village was rushed to Tsholotsho District Hospital on Wednesday after Delani Moyo allegedly struck him several times with the chopper at Malanda shops.Police arrested Moyo hours later in a South Africa-bound vehicle as he tried to flee.

Sources said Moyo won $1 in a game of cards and Ngwenya refused to pay up. Ward 14 Councillor Christopher Ncube said: “I confirm that two men in my village fought over a dollar. They quarrelled when they were playing cards at Malanda Business Centre. Ngwenya is still in hospital after he sustained serious injuries,” said Clr Ncube

A witness said there was mayhem as villagers scrambled to get out of the way when Moyo lost his marbles. “Moyo produced an axe and frenziedly attacked Michael. People scattered in different directions as blood gushed from deep cuts on Michael’s head,” said a witness.

The witness said everyone thought the herdsman was dead because he was not moving. He said police rushed to the scene with a metal coffin when they received a report as everyone was saying Ngwenya had died in the vicious assault.

“There was so much blood and he wasn’t moving. When Moyo fled, some elders gathered courage and drew near, only to discover Michael was still breathing,” said the witness. Villagers said the police rushed Ngwenya to hospital.

Yesterday, a villager said: “He’s still admitted and still can’t speak.” When The Chronicle visited Ngwenya on Thursday he was in a critical condition and he failed to speak to the news crew.

A police source said Moyo was in police custody as he was arrested on the same day. “He was arrested in a vehicle bound for South Africa at Tsholotsho Business Centre. Initially he tried to resist but the police were armed. He probably thought he had killed Ngwenya,” said the source.

Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament Cde Zenzo Sibanda on Thursday saw Ngwenya when he visited patients at Tsholotsho District Hospital. He donated a tonne of maize and a cow, which he said was meant to assist in improving patients’ diet. Cde Sibanda urged Tsholotsho villagers to shun crime.

“These are young people and they should be taught that violence isn’t a solution to any misunderstanding. Parents should be responsible and make sure that their children don’t commit crime,” he said.Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese was unreachable for comment.