Mashudu Mambo
A 56-YEAR-OLD man from Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo who assaulted a fellow tenant with a chair following a misunderstanding escaped jail after his 15-month jail package was suspended on condition that he completes 350 hours of unpaid service.
Jabulani Nkomo pleaded guilty to assault before Bulawayo magistrate Busani Sibanda.
He heaved a huge sigh of relief when five months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Another 10 months were suspended on condition that he completes 350 hours of community service at Ngwenyama Primary School.
This means Nkomo will be providing free labour at the school for 10 weeks.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate considered that Nkomo was a first offender and that he did not waste the court’s time when he pleaded guilty.
“I was planning to take you to prison, but because you have to take care of your mother and wife who are unwell, I do not want to punish the innocent people as the sentence might worsen their condition,” charged Sibanda.
The court heard that on 7 November, Nkomo and Joshua Chiwara (41) who are both self-employed and operate from Cold Storage Company (CSC) complex in Belmont industrial area had a misunderstanding.
This was after Chiwara approached him demanding that he gives him money so that they could hire an electrician to fix an electric fault at their workplace.
That reportedly didn’t go down well with Nkomo who, in a fit of anger, assaulted Chiwara with a chair on his head.
Chiwara sustained a deep cut on the head and hand as a result of the assault.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Nkomo’s arrest.
