Gweru (The Times-New Ziana) – A Gokwe man from Mafa village under chief Nemangwe has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese for killing his brother after a dispute over gold ore.

Justice Makonese, who was on circuit at the Gweru Magistrates Court, found Passmore Musanika, 29, guilty of murdering his brother Jaison Musanika, 34, at Arizona 74 Mine.

Passmore stabbed his brother with an okapi knife twice on the chest on 27 August 2018.

Public prosecutor Mirirai Shumba said Passmore stabbed his brother with the intention to kill him.

“The accused person unlawfully caused the death of Jaison Musanika by stabbing him with an okapi knife on the chest twice, intending or realizing that there was high risk that his conduct may cause death and continued to engage in the conduct despite the risk or possibility (of causing death),” he said.

Shumba told the court that there was a misunderstanding between the two brothers on the afternoon of August 27, 2018 over gold ore.

“Passmore accused Jaison of stealing his portion of gold ore and became violent,” he told Justice Makonese.

The gold ore, Shumba said, was supposed to be shared between the two brothers but Jaison decided to sell it without the knowledge of Passmore.

“Passmore drew a knife from his trousers’ pockets, grabbed his brother’s waist and tripped him. He immediately stabbed Jaison on his chest while he was on the ground and fled the scene leaving him bleeding profusely,” he told the court.

Shumba said that life was given once and lived once, hence no one had any right to cause any loss of life.

He said Passmore, who at the commission of the crime was 27 years, was old enough to realise the gravity of what he was doing.

“Miners think that every problem must be resolved by killing, and that mentality must suddenly be brought to an end,” he said.

Justice Makonese sentenced Passmore to 18 years in prison, but suspended one and a half years as he had spent that period in remand prison.
The Times-New Ziana