BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Victoria Falls tenant lost an eye after he was attacked by his landlord with a log following a dispute over US$3 in rent arrears
Brian Karemba (40) said he was attacked by Gift Kazembe (44) at his Mkhosana high density suburb lodgings after he told him that he was not able to pay the outstanding rentals.
Kazembe appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa recently facing attempted murder charges over the incident that happened on June 5.
Karemba said trouble started at 11 PM when he got back home from Shoestrings night club.
“My landlord came to my room and asked for his outstanding rentals and l told him that l did not have enough money,” Karemba said in a sworn statement.
“This did not go well with him and he started assaulting me on my face and head using a wooden log and fists.
“I sustained a deep cut on my left eye.”
Karemba was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital by his brother Misheck Muponda where he was immediately transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Doctors removed his eye on June 17 due to the severity of the injuries he had suffered.
Prosecutors said they were waiting for a report from the UBH before referring the case to the Hwange regional court for trial.
Kazembe, who was not asked to plead to attempted murder charges, will be back in court on August 27 for further remand.
He was released on $ 5000 bail. Some of the bail conditions include that he must reside house number 8134, Mkhosana Township, not visit Karemba’s current residency, not interfere with state witnesses, surrender his travel documents and report at the Victoria Falls police station every Friday.
Kazembe is represented by Nomusa Khumalo of Ncube and Partners Legal Practitioners.