By Panashe Karidzagundi.
AN 18-year-old youth will learn to keep his hands to himself after he was sentenced to 490 hiurs of community service becayse he hit a friend in an airtime dispute.
Usher Kapfunde appeared before Magistrate Mbonisi Kaweni on Wednesday this week.
The court heard that on June 25, 2026, Kapfunde assaulted 19-year-old Neyo Gareth Nekhoma, repeatedly slapping him in the face following a misunderstanding after he refused to sell him airtime.
Prosecutor Victor Gorejena said, the dispute reportedly stemmed from an earlier altercation between the two, who are friends.
Gorejena told the Court that, Nekhoma sustained injuries to his left eye and was treated at Beitbridge District Hospital.
Gorejena told the Court that, Nekhoma suffered blurred vision and that his family had incurred medical expenses.
Medical evidence indicated the injury could result in permanent damage.
In mitigation, Kapfunde told the court he was unmarried, had no previous convictions, and had been due to start a new job of filling gas cylinders on July 3, 2026.
He also said he had about US$30 at home and pleaded for leniency, telling the court he had not intended for the incident to end as seriously as it had.
In passing sentence, Kaweni noted that Kapfunde was a youthful first offender and had not used a weapon during the assault.
However, the magistrate said the Nekhoma suffered moderate injuries, with medical evidence suggesting the eye injury could be permanent.
Kapfunde was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, with 10 months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining 14 months were suspended on condition that he completes 490 hours of community service at Vhembe High School, working Mondays to Fridays.
Kapfunde risks the possibility of another civil suit over the damaged eye.