Man jailed after attacking friend for walking too slowly after drinking spree

A man has been sentenced to prison after attacking his friend for walking too slowly following a drinking spree in Emakhandeni, Zimbabwe.

The incident occurred in the late morning of December 3, 2025, after the two men had been drinking together at a house in the area. According to evidence presented in court, both men were heavily intoxicated when they left the premises to walk home.

As they made their way, one of the men struggled to keep pace due to his drunken state. This reportedly angered his companion, who lost patience and turned violent.

The court heard that the attacker used a knobkerrie to strike his friend several times on different parts of the body before escalating the assault by hitting him with an empty beer bottle. The victim sustained facial injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

The attacker, identified as 30-year-old Previous Nyathi, later appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure, where he was charged with attempted murder. Nyathi told the court that alcohol had clouded his judgment and that he later realised his actions were wrong.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years. The remaining three years will be served effectively.