A Gokwe man, John Gwatidzo, has been sentenced to six years in prison for the culpable homicide of his neighbour, following a dispute over buying beer on credit.
The 40-year-old Gwatidzo appeared before the High Court sitting at Gokwe, where he was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with two years suspended.
The incident occurred on 25 August 2022 at Makotore Business Centre, Chief Chireya, Gokwe North. Gwatidzo and the deceased, a 33-year-old man, were both looking for a shop to purchase goods on credit. An argument erupted between the two when the deceased attempted to negotiate for beer on credit at one of the shops.
The situation escalated when Gwatidzo dragged the deceased outside the shop, tripped him to the ground, and proceeded to strangle him. He then struck the deceased with a stone several times on the head, leaving him unconscious. The deceased succumbed to his injuries on 1 September 2022. Gwatidzo was arrested on 6 September 2022.
The court heard how the dispute over buying beer on credit led to a tragic escalation of violence. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of allowing disagreements to spiral out of control.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA) has expressed concern over the incident, urging members of the public to refrain from resorting to violence when resolving disputes. The NPA encourages individuals to seek peaceful resolutions through dialogue or third-party mediation.
“We urge the public to always strive for amicable solutions in their disagreements. Violence is never the answer and can have devastating consequences for all involved,” said the NPA in a statement.
