By Prince Chese
AN altercation over sewage burst repairs has spilt into court after Fortune Mukamara allegedly assaulted a neighbour forbidding a municipality plumber into his yard to access a pipe.
Mukamara appeared before Beitbridge provincial magistrate Mponisi Kaweni facing assault charges after allegedly hitting Shepherd Bayanai (43) with an iron ba.
The incident is said to have on September 9, 2025 at House Number 4782 in Beitbridge’s New Medium Desity, where both Mukamara and Bayanai reside.
Prosecutor Reason Mutimba told the court that Bayanai called a plumber from the Municipality of Beitbridge (MOB) to attend to a sewer burst between their homes.
As they accessed the pipes through the accused’s yard, Mukamara allegedly became aggressive.
“As I was showing the plumber the sewer pipes, Mukamara started shouting at us. He went into his house and returned with an iron bar. He struck me four times on the head and ribs.
“I was seriously injured, went to the local hospital, and later travelled to Polokwane for further treatment. I spent around US$2,000 on medical expenses,” he said in his testimony.
IMukamara admitted to assaulting Bayanai but claimed hitting hitting him once.
“He is exaggerating,” he said in his admission.
Called to witness, plumber Brian Ndou (35), said Mukamara started shouting at them before coming out with an iron bar and struck Bayanai four times.
“I stopped the assault and helped Bayanai back to his house,” he said.
Kaweni set October 6 as the date when Mukamara is expected to defend himself.