Binga Man Jailed 10 Years for Attempted Murder and Drug Offences

By Southerton Business Times | Hwange

A 46-year-old man from Binga District has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison after he was convicted of attempting to kill six family members by setting a house on fire and of unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Nguquko Moyo, of Lusulu, Binga, was sentenced by the Hwange Regional Court following the attack, which occurred in Kayongolo Village under Chief Pashu on the night of 12 June 2026.

According to the prosecution, Moyo went to his mother's homestead shortly before midnight and confronted relatives over allegations of an extramarital affair. The NPA said he then set fire to a bedroom hut where six relatives, including his 66-year-old mother, another adult and three children aged three, 10 and 12, were asleep. The court heard that when another relative attempted to rescue those trapped inside, Moyo allegedly locked the door from the outside.

The occupants managed to escape after breaking through a rear mud wall before the fire engulfed the structure. Police were alerted and attended the scene during the early hours of the following morning.

During the investigation, officers recovered 12.5 kilograms of cannabis concealed in nearby bushes. According to the NPA, the discovery was made after police observed suspicious activity while conducting inquiries at the homestead. The recovered cannabis was stored in four buckets, leading to an additional charge of unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.

Moyo was convicted on six counts of attempted murder and one count of unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs. The court sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment for the attempted murder convictions, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour. He received a further five-year sentence for the drug offence, with one year suspended. The sentences were structured to leave Moyo serving an effective 10-year prison term. The case underscores the serious penalties Zimbabwean courts continue to impose for violent offences that endanger lives, particularly where children and vulnerable family members are involved.

Binga attempted murder case