Panners attack villager

News
A 19-year-old Mberengwa man has been arraigned before a Gweru magistrate facing attempted murder charges.

Brenna Matendere

A 19-year-old Mberengwa man has been arraigned before a Gweru magistrate facing attempted murder charges after attacking a fellow villager with a machete, accusing him of casting a spell on his gold panning business.

Joseph Ndabare (19) of Vanguard compound in Mberengwa was not asked to plead when he appeared before regional magistrate Phatekile Msipa on Thursday.

Prosecutors said on August 24 last year at around midnight, Ndabare and his friend Casipa Kasimure, who is still at large, went to Philemon Mthetwa’s house.

They accused him of casting a spell on their gold panning business.

The two armed themselves with machetes and severely assaulted Mthethwa, who sustained serious deep cut injuries on the forehead and right foot. Ndabare was remanded in custody to May 3.