The Principal Residence Magistrate Court in Mzuzu has convicted and sentenced Roppen Ziba, 28, to 9 years imprisonment with hard labour for grievously harming Boniface Chankhumbira at Ekwendeni in Mzimba district.

The court, through state prosecutor Superintendent Bettie Msowoya, heard that on January 1, 2025, at around 21:30 hours, the victim and his friends were at Snack Garden Bar in Ekwendeni, celebrating the New Year, and the convict was one of the patrons.

In the course of the celebration, a disagreement on other issues erupted between the two, which resulted in shouting and quarrelling, but the group managed to calm the situation.

A few minutes after the quarrel, the victim went to the toilet to ease himself. Whilst there, the convict abruptly emerged and started assaulting him with an unknown object, resulting in the victim having deep cut wounds around the neck, he however, managed overpower the convict and brought him to the group.

The issue was later reported to Ekwendeni Police Post and the victim was issued a medical report, he was taken to Ekwendeni Mission Hospital and referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital where he was admitted.

Appearing before court, the convict accepted the charge, saying that he committed the offence without reason. In mitigation, he asked the court for leniency, saying that he is a first offender and was drunk on the night he committed the offence.

However, the state prosecutor asked the court for stiff punishment, saying that the convict committed a serious offence which led the victim to be deeply wounded and could have lost his life in the process.

Passing sentence, Principal Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda concurred with the state that the gravity of the offence is serious and sentenced him to 9 years imprisonment with hard labour for acts intended to cause grievous harm contrary to section 235 of the penal code.

Ziba comes from Mwakaseghe Village, Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba district.