A 33-year-old man from Binga has appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court accused of severely injuring a teenage workmate in a violent altercation triggered by a dispute over a wheelbarrow. The accused, Shepherd Mudimba, allegedly struck 18-year-old Tafadzwa Nkomo on the head with a spade, causing a deep wound and a fractured skull that required emergency surgery.
The incident occurred on September 23, 2025, at a workplace in Bulawayo, where both men were employed. According to the prosecution, a seemingly harmless request escalated into a serious case of assault. Prosecutor Jethro Mada told the court that Mudimba had asked Nkomo to fetch him a wheelbarrow, but the exchange quickly turned into a heated confrontation.
“The accused picked up a spade and hit the complainant once on the head, near the forehead,” Mada said.
The force of the blow left Nkomo bleeding heavily and disoriented. Realising the severity of the injury, their employer rushed him to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Doctors later confirmed that blood had accumulated beneath his scalp due to internal bleeding, forcing them to perform an urgent operation to drain it.
The courtroom heard two sharply contrasting versions of the events that led to the attack.
According to the prosecution, Nkomo had done nothing to provoke the assault. He was merely performing his duties when Mudimba suddenly accused him of being disrespectful and struck him without warning.
However, the accused told a different story when he took the stand before Magistrate Taurai Manwere. Mudimba admitted to hitting Nkomo but claimed he acted in a moment of anger after enduring repeated verbal insults from the teenager. He described the confrontation as a build-up of tension that finally “boiled over.”
“He kept quiet when I asked for the wheelbarrow, then started again saying I always look down on him,” Mudimba explained. “That’s when I lost it. I grabbed a spade and hit him once on the head.”
He maintained that he did not intend to cause serious harm, insisting it was an impulsive reaction to perceived disrespect.
The victim’s testimony, however, contradicted this account entirely. Taking the witness stand, Nkomo described the assault as sudden and unprovoked, saying Mudimba’s accusations came out of nowhere.
“He accused me of disrespecting him, and before I could finish explaining myself, he struck me on the head with a shovel,” Nkomo told the court.
He also described the lasting physical and emotional pain he continues to endure since the attack.
“I still feel pain and itching on the scar,” he said softly. “I don’t know what made him so angry. It was just a wheelbarrow.”
Binga Man in Court for Cracking Teen’s Skull in Violent Feud Over Wheelbarrow
Witnesses at the workplace reportedly intervened after hearing Nkomo’s screams and helped rush him to safety before calling their employer and the police. The young man was later admitted to hospital for several days as doctors monitored his recovery.
Medical evidence presented in court confirmed that the injury was severe and could have been fatal had medical attention been delayed. The attending physician’s report noted a cracked frontal bone and significant swelling caused by blunt force trauma.
The prosecutor argued that Mudimba’s violent conduct showed a reckless disregard for human life, urging the court to impose a deterrent sentence.
“The accused’s actions were deliberate and dangerous. A simple disagreement over a tool cannot justify such brutality. This court must send a strong message that violence, no matter the provocation, is unacceptable,” said Mada.
Magistrate Manwere commended the employer for acting swiftly to save the teenager’s life but expressed concern about the rising number of assault cases stemming from trivial disputes.
“It is worrying that adults continue to resort to violence to solve minor misunderstandings. This was a matter that could have been resolved through communication,” the magistrate remarked.
The case has sparked conversations within the community about workplace tensions, emotional control, and the need for conflict resolution mechanisms. Many residents of Binga and Bulawayo have expressed shock that a disagreement over a simple wheelbarrow could result in such severe violence.
As the trial continues, the prosecution is expected to call additional witnesses to support Nkomo’s version of events. Mudimba remains out on remand but could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of aggravated assault or attempted murder, depending on the court’s ruling.
For now, Nkomo continues to recover from the attack, his once simple workday forever changed by an outburst of rage that nearly cost him his life.
“I just want to heal and move on,” the teenager said quietly as he left the courtroom. “But I will never forget that day.”
Source- iHarare
