By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Joel Kwenda has been arraigned before the Karoi Magistrates’ Court on charges of assault.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Of this, 9 months were suspended for five years, while the remaining 9 months were suspended on the condition that he performs community service.
According to court records, the incident occurred on June 1, 2025, at approximately 10:00 AM outside the Roman Catholic Church.
The victim was engaged in plastering a house when Kwenda passed by and greeted him. In response, Kwenda reportedly told the victim that he must not befriend him, which the victim initially thought was a joke.
However, Kwenda’s reaction quickly turned aggressive; he chased the victim and assaulted him with clenched fists. The assault escalated further when Kwenda bit the victim on his lower lip, resulting in the victim losing a chunk of flesh.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPAZ) has reiterated its call to the public to avoid violence, emphasizing that assaults can often escalate into more serious crimes such as murder.