Kwekwe Men Jailed 30 Years Each Over US$1 Murder

By Staff Reporter | Gweru

Two Kwekwe men have each been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering a fellow patron during a dispute over a US$1 note at Mbizo 14 shops.

Prince Magwati, 24, and Onard Musvunguma, 33, were convicted of murder and sentenced by High Court Judge Justice Naison Chivhayo at the Gweru Circuit High Court. The two were found guilty of killing Leonard Gambakamba on September 11, 2025, at about 8.30 pm. The case was initially reported by police following the killing. The Zimbabwe Republic Police said in September 2025 that Prince Magwati was among suspects arrested in connection with Gambakamba's murder at Mbizo 14 Tuckshops in Kwekwe.

According to evidence before the court, Magwati, Gambakamba and Gambakamba's brother were at the Mbizo 14 shops when Magwati accused Gambakamba of stealing his dollar. The accusation resulted in an altercation between the two men. The dispute was eventually resolved, after which Magwati left the shopping area. However, he later returned with Musvunguma.

The two men confronted Gambakamba and began assaulting him, punching and shoving him until he fell to the ground. Magwati then stabbed Gambakamba twice with an okapi knife, striking him once in the chest and once in the back. The two men fled from the scene after the attack. Other patrons reportedly gave chase but were unable to catch them. Police attended the scene and found Gambakamba unconscious. He was taken to Kwekwe General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by Dr Mhondiwa.

The court heard that a post-mortem examination was subsequently conducted by Dr Sanganai Pesanai at United Bulawayo Hospitals on September 15, 2025. The examination concluded that Gambakamba died from acute cardiac failure, haemorrhagic shock and haemothorax. The medical findings linked the fatal injuries to the severe blood loss and chest complications suffered by the victim.

The case highlights how a dispute over a relatively small amount of money escalated into a fatal confrontation. Recent Zimbabwean court reporting has also documented a number of serious murder cases coming before the High Court's Gweru circuit. The development comes against a backdrop of continuing concern over violent crime in parts of Kwekwe and Midlands Province. Magwati and Musvunguma were convicted of murder as defined under Section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The prosecution was led by Tadenyika Talent. The court's sentence means both men will serve 30 years in prison for their respective roles in Gambakamba's death. The case began with an argument over a single dollar but ended with a family losing a loved one and two young men receiving lengthy prison sentences. The Zimbabwe Republic Police had earlier urged members of the public to resolve disputes peacefully and avoid resorting to violence, particularly where disagreements can be settled without confrontation. Its September 2025 statement confirmed that Magwati and other suspects had been arrested in connection with the Mbizo 14 murder.

Kwekwe men jailed 30 years