A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court sitting at Gweru for murdering a 23-year-old man with an axe following a dispute over missing groceries and a US$5 transport fee.
Collen Ishmael was convicted of murdering Ellias Kavhumbura Chimutiso at Stand Number 19, Wentworth, Redcliff, Kwekwe.
The court heard that on April 6, 2026, at around 1pm, Chimutiso hired Ishmael to transport his groceries from Mutegude Business Centre to his home using an ox-drawn scotch cart.
The agreed transport fee was US$5.
Upon arriving at his residence, Chimutiso discovered that some of his groceries were missing.
He confronted Ishmael and told him he would not pay the agreed fee until the missing groceries were returned.
The disagreement escalated into a physical fight inside Chimutiso's tuck-shop.
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The fight continued outside despite efforts by a witness to restrain the two men.
Ishmael then went to his scotch cart, armed himself with an axe and returned to where Chimutiso was.
He struck Chimutiso once on the left shin and once on the right side of the head, causing him to fall to the ground bleeding heavily.
Ishmael then fled the scene.
Police attended the scene and took Chimutiso to Kwekwe General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A post-mortem examination established that he died from a brain injury caused by severe head trauma and assault.
Ishmael was arrested on April 7, 2026, and police recovered the axe from his bedroom.
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