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Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A 36-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who was last month arraigned for bashing a National University of Science and Technology student after he found him in his bedroom has been convicted of assault.

Mandlenkosi Ndlovu of Gwabalanda suburb pleaded guilty to assaulting his neighbour, Tatenda Stanley Dzira when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

“I beat him up your worship. I admit. I was angry. I found him hiding under my bed, in my bedroom. He failed to give a good explanation of what he was doing in my bedroom, under my bed,” said Ndlovu.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on October 1 this year in the morning, Ndlovu had a misunderstanding with Dzira over what he was doing in his bedroom with his wife of 11 years, Florence Sibanda.

The court heard that Ndlovu attacked the complainant with a metal bar several times all over the body.

Dzira told the court that he had gone to Ndlovu’s home to borrow a flash drive.

“I was going to our money club when I decided to pass by Ndlovu’s home asking for a USB. I found his wife alone at their home.

“In a period of about five minutes, Ndlovu returned and was spotted by his wife. She panicked and told me to hide under the bed,” said Dzira.

In a warned and cautioned statement however, Ndlovu’s wife had a different story to tell as she admitted that she was having an affair with Dzira.

“The complainant came to my home and locked the door from inside so that we could have sex without disturbances from my children who were playing outside. Shortly my husband arrived and my children shouted ‘uDaddy usemnyango’ (Daddy’s by the door) and I swiftly lifted the bed to allow Dzira to hide. I opened the door and my husband asked why I had locked the door.”

Ndlovu allegedly stumbled on Dzira as he was collecting his hammer from under the bed. He started striking him with a metal pipe before he managed to escape.

Sibanda fled and sought refuge at her sister’s house.

A medical report exhibited in court stated that Dzira sustained external and internal injuries that could lead to bleeding in his brain.

Dzira reported the matter to the police, leading to Ndlovu arrest.

The convict will be advised of the date for his sentencing.

— @andile_tshuma