There was drama at a sports club in Bulawayo when a  tree cutter attempted to cut off a suspected hooker’s hand using a chainsaw over US$40 he had given her to buy beer.

The dramatic incident unfolded after Josphat Maphosa, a tree cutter, gave the woman US$40 to buy beer. The hooker then furtively left him and joined another men’s table at Parkview Sports Club in Paddonhurst before they started enjoying beer together.

Maphosa went to his car, a Honda Fit which was parked outside before he returned carrying a chainsaw. He switched it on intending to hack the woman before Owen Zhou, 44, and Jephson  Zhou, 37, intervened.

Owen and Jephson Zhou of Paddonhurst suburb allegedly covered Josphat Maphosa (37) of Nkulumane suburb with a plastic bin, disarmed him of the chainsaw before indiscriminately assaulting him. Maphosa alleged that the two robbed him of US$210.

Owen and Jephson appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Stephen Ndhlovu facing theft and assault charges.

Due to inconsistencies in the complainant’s testimony, Ndhlovu ruled that the two accused persons were not guilty and acquitted them.

In their defense, Owen and Jephson said Maphosa could have killed the woman as he was holding a dangerous weapon.

Reports indicates that the State represented by Nhlalwenhle Dube had alleged that on February 13 at around 2 AM, the accused persons were at Parkview Sports Club where the complainant was also drinking beer.

“The complainant had a heated misunderstanding with the woman over money, which he had given her to buy beer. During the dispute, he threatened to cut off her hands with a chainsaw resulting in Owen and Jephson intervening,” said Dube.