Police in Matabeleland South are urgently seeking information to apprehend the unidentified man who brutally attacked a 40-year-old man at Diba Business Centre, Plumtree, with an axe on December 16.
The victim Lekani Ndlovu is said to be in a critical condition.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident and said they are looking for the man who ran away after committing the crime.
“On the 16th of December 2023, a 40-year-old-man Lekani Ndlovu from Diba under Chief Kandana was with his friend aged 45 years Phumulani Ncube from the same area at Diba business center drinking with other patrons. The accused was also at the business centre roaming around the business centre, he then went to the bar where Ndlovu and Ncube were drinking around 10 pm when people were preparing to retire for the night,” said Inspector Mangena.
She said the accused person who was visibly drunk started shouting at the patrons who were at the bar.
“Ndlovu and Ncube tried to reprimand him to stop shouting at people and this did not go well with him, he then removed an axe which was in his jacket and axed Ndlovu in the head. It got stuck and he failed to remove it.”
“Ncube tried to run away but he also hit him with a brick and he survived injuries in the head, nose and the eye, his condition was stable, but Ndlovu was taken to Plumtree Hospital as his condition was critical,” said Inspector Mangena.
“The accused ran away.”
Inspector Mangena appealed for information from those who may know the whereabouts of the suspect.
“We are urging citizens to observe the holidays peacefully and respect other people. People should also engage elders, traditional leaders, church elders and us the police in cases of misunderstandings. Maybe there might have been a long-time dispute but here there was no apparent reason why he struck these people,” she said.
